Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Former Washington forward Desmond Simmons discusses reasons for transfer

Lorenzo Roman, Desmond Simmons

Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar, right, talks to player Desmond Simmons in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the California, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, in Seattle. California won 72-59. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

AP

Just a couple weeks after seeing his season come to an end, forward Desmond Simmons announced via Twitter his decision to leave the Washington program. Having redshirted in 2010-11, the 6-foot-7 Simmons would have a season of eligibility remaining at the school of his choice. Ultimately Simmons chose Saint Mary’s, joining a program looking to return to the NCAA tournament after winding up in the NIT in 2013-14.

Simmons will be one of two Pac-12 transfers joining Randy Bennett’s program this summer, with former Stanford guard Aaron Bright being the other addition. And in a story written by Percy Allen of the Seattle Times, Simmons spoke about his reason for transferring from Washington.

Ultimately, it was about the role Simmons foresaw himself having in 2014-15 had he decided to remain a Husky.

“I just felt like after this year, in my opinion, I pretty much kind of envisioned what next year was going to be like for me. I thought it was going to be similar to this past season. I was looking to go somewhere where I feel like I can be more involved on both ends of the court, a little bit more offensively involved. I feel like – in my opinion – next year wasn’t going to be too much different from the past previous years. I guess that’s why (I’m leaving) now. And I don’t have to sit out a year.”

Also of note was Simmons’ mentioning of Saint Mary’s playing more of a 4 out/1 in style on offense, which in theory could result in more freedom for the graduate transfer on that end of the floor. As a redshirt junior Simmons posted averages of 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, and even with the departures of guard C.J. Wilcox and forward Perris Blackwell his offensive role was unlikely to expand in 2014-15.

Washington returns guards Andrew Andrews and Nigel Williams-Goss, with the former spending part of his summer playing in China with an all-star team put together by the Pac-12, and rising sophomore Darin Johnson figures to have a bigger role for Huskies after scoring nearly six points per game as a freshman.

As for the program Simmons will be joining the Gaels have to account for the graduation of leading scorer Stephen Holt, and that will result in more opportunities for returnees and newcomers alike. Brad Waldow (15.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and Kerry Carter (9.3, 3.3) are the Gaels’ top two returnees, with no other players having averaged more than 3.9 points per game (forward Garrett Jackson) in 2013-14.

Follow @raphiellej