Former University of Washington forward Desmond Simmons, who said in March that he would transfer, has selected St. Mary’s (CA.) of the West Coast Conference as his destination. The fifth-year senior, who faced reduced minutes in 2014-15 at UW, will be eligible to play for the Gaels next season.
Simmons averaged 21 minutes per game for the Huskies last season after he returned to the team after missing the first 10 games after undergoing minor knee surgery. The 6-foot-7 Vallejo, CA., native averaged 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds.
Simmons departed Washington (with his degree) because he wanted a “bigger role” in what will be his final collegiate season.
The 6-foot-7 forward enrolled at Washington for the 2010-11 season and red-shirted that year. He had his best game as a Husky Dec. 12, 2012 against Cal-State Fullerton with 14 points and 18 rebounds, both career highs.
Simmons would have lost minutes in 2014-15 to 6-foot-10 sophomore Jernard Jarreau, who missed last season with an ACL tear, and Robert Upshaw, a 6-foot-11 center who transferred to Washington in 2013 from Fresno State.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2184096 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2184096">1 Comment
Good for Des. He gets to play in a solid program that has averaged a 26-8 record the past seven seasons with a trip to the NCAAs or NIT each of those seasons AND, with his degree in his pocket, he can concentrate on basketball next winter. The Gaels get a solid and energetic defensive catalyst who can play three positions, depending on the matchups.
And the Huskies? Well, they get to hope that Jarreau and Upshaw come close to making the kinds of contributions Simmons has made the past three seasons. Getting bigger isn’t synonymous with getting better.