Kansas transfer Downs in process of enrolling at GU
Former Juanita (Kirkland, Wash.,) High School standout and McDonald’s All-American Micah Downs confirmed on Friday that he is in the process of enrolling at Gonzaga University.
Downs, a 6-foot-8, 180-pound small forward, announced earlier this week that he was leaving the University of Kansas, where he averaged 4.3 points in 13 games as a freshman with the Jayhawks this winter.
“It’s unfortunate that Micah’s tenure as a Kansas basketball player only lasted one semester,” KU coach Bill Self at the time of Downs’ departure. “Micah has decided to go home to resolve some personal issues.”
When contacted by phone, Downs refused to comment on his decision to transfer, but said he is going through the admissions process and expects to officially enroll early next week.
“I really just want to focus on getting the rest of this (admissions) stuff taken care of,” he explained. “Then I’ll be willing to sit down and talk to the media – hopefully by the middle of next week.”
Downs, who averaged 24.8 points and 12.2 rebounds as a senior at Juanita, signed his original letter of intent with Kansas after reportedly considering scholarship offers from Gonzaga and Duke, as well.
Under NCAA rules, coaches from institutions other than Kansas are not allowed to comment on Downs until he starts attending classes once again. Gonzaga started its second semester on Jan. 18.
Self, when contacted by the Lawrence Journal-World, said he would not talk further about Downs’ decision to transfer until after the Jayhawks next two games against Iowa State tonight and Texas Tech on Monday.
It was still not certain whether Downs has been officially released from his scholarship by KU, but he will most likely have to pay his way at GU, at least for the rest of the semester, because with the addition of BYU transfer David Burgess earlier this month, the Bulldogs have the NCAA limit of 13 players on scholarship.
Downs attended seven different high schools in three different states prior to signing with Kansas, but did not play basketball at all seven. As a junior at Bothell (Wash.) High, he averaged 19.7 points and 11.8 rebounds. He played his sophomore season at Butte, Mont., and his freshman year at Green Valley in Henderson, Nev.
Downs’ father, Steve, told a Seattle newspaper that he was forced to move his son from school to school because of his occupation as a carpenter and family issues.
At the time Downs left Kansas, his father issued a statement saying, “This is not a basketball issue. At this time in his life, being closer to home will hopefully enable Micah to resolve some issues.
“We thank Kansas for its support and wish them the best of luck.”
Under the NCAA’s transfer rule, Downs would not be eligible to play for Gonzaga until the end of the first semester next year – sometime in December – and would have approximately 2 1/2 years of eligibility remaining. Downs must be enrolled within 12 class days of the start of the current semester, however, to have it count toward his NCAA residency requirement.