Tag: Eric Williams

Oregon transfer Eric Williams commits to Steve Lavin and San Diego Toreros

Former Oregon Ducks guard Eric Williams committed to San Diego, joining Jaiden Delaire from the Pac-12 on Steve Lavin’s squad.

Former Oregon Ducks guard Eric Williams has committed to the University of San Diego for his final year of collegiate eligibility, according to a tweet from Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Williams initially entered the transfer portal back in March. He made it clear he was exploring professional opportunities as well as other schools – even indicating he was not planning to return to Oregon regardless.

It was recently revealed he went on a visit to San Diego and he even had a visit scheduled at USC as well.

Williams becomes the second high profile Pac-12 player to join new head coach Steve Lavin at San Diego, following in the footsteps of Jaiden Delaire from Stanford.

Williams averaged 8.4 points in a mostly reserve role for Oregon last year, his second with the Ducks after beginning his career in the A-10 with Duquesne.

Now he’ll head to the WCC, a tough conference to make the NCAA Tournament out of thanks to Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s, but a program where he should get plenty of opportunities to prove himself alongside Delaire in Lavin’s first year back coaching at the D-1 level.

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Eric Williams to forego final year of eligibility to begin pro career

Former Oregon Ducks guard Eric Williams announced on Twitter he plans to forego his final year of NCAA eligibility and hire an agent.

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Former Oregon Ducks wing Eric Williams officially closed the door on his college career Sunday evening, revealing in a tweet that he is planning to forego his final year of eligibility and will hire an agent to help him begin his professional career.

Williams had already made it clear he was not planning to return to Oregon, stating in late March that he was entering the transfer portal and didn’t (at that time) have plans to sign with an agent so he could keep his options open.

Now it looks like the 6’6 combo guard will be entering the NBA draft process after averaging 8.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists for Oregon in his final season.

Williams began his collegiate career at Duquesne, where he played two seasons before transferring to Oregon, sitting out in 2019-20, and then playing a big role in each of the past two seasons for coach Dana Altman.

Williams will be a tough player to replace in Eugene, although there are a handful of talented wing players available via the transfer portal that Altman and his staff no doubt have their eyes on.

Contact/Follow us @Ducks_Wire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion.

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5 players in the transfer portal Oregon could pursue to replace Eric Williams

A look at five players currently in the transfer portal who Dana Altman and the Ducks could pursue to help replace the minutes vacated by Eric Williams.

The 2021-2022 college basketball season is wrapping up, with the Final Four taking place over the weekend among Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and Villanova.

The Oregon Ducks are already on vacation, but coach Dana Altman and his staff have plenty of work to do to reshape the roster heading into next season. They are coming off a year in which a late-season collapse cost them a chance to compete in the NCAA Tournament.

While there are plenty of players who could depart, either via the transfer portal or the professional ranks, so far the only rotation player to hit the road is wing Eric Williams, who entered the transfer portal earlier in the week.

Williams is a 6-foot-6 combo guard who averaged 27 minutes per night for Oregon this past season, scoring 8.4 points and grabbing 4.6 rebounds while shooting 35.1% from the 3-point line.

Replacing his production is no easy task, although the Ducks have plenty of talent joining the team in their outstanding recruiting class of 2022.

Still, a veteran wing who can score, play solid defense and shoot from the 3-point line would be a really nice addition to this team via the transfer portal, in part to replace Williams and in part to add experience to a team that is losing Williams as well as Jacob Young.

The portal isn’t lacking options that fit those parameters. Below is a list of five candidates currently available that Altman and his staff should pursue if they want to help supplement the young talent on the roster with some experience and shooting.

Eric Williams leaves door open for return to college, but not to Oregon Ducks

It appears that Eric Williams Jr. may consider a return to college. However, he will transfer away from Oregon if he does so.

An interesting clarification came from Oregon Ducks forward Eric Williams early this week when it comes to the future of his basketball career.

Williams, who was with the Ducks for three seasons, went through senior day ceremonies with Oregon this year and announced following the season that he would be trying his hand at the professional level. However, on Monday afternoon, The Oregonian’s James Crepea reported that, while Williams will try to go pro, he doesn’t plan to sign an agent so he has the option of coming back to school.

Good news for Oregon, right? They might get back a player who averaged 9 points and 5 rebounds in his time in Eugene, right?

Wrong. It sounds like if Williams does come back to college, he will be looking for a new team to play for.

The future of the Oregon program is in a bit of flux right now, especially with the transfer portal looming. Isaac Johnson already announced his intention to transfer, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see others leave as well. On top of that, there is a possibility that Will Richardson returns for one more year, and we have to wait and see what N’Faly Dante decides to do as well.

Regardless of who stays or goes, though, Dana Altman has one of the top recruiting classes in the nation coming to Eugene next year, with 5-stars Kel’el Ware and Dior Johnson on the way, not to mention JUCO stars Tyrone Williams and Brennan Rigsby.

Contact/Follow us @Ducks_Wire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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On this day: Celtics Scott born; Battie traded; Gamble debuted

On this day, former Celtic champion Charlie Scott was born, Tony Battie was traded, and Kevin Gamble debuted for the team.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, champion point and shooting guard Charles Thomas Scott was born in New York City, New York in 1948. Better known as “Charlie” to many Celtics fans, the New Yorker famously broke the color barrier at the University of North Carolina as that famed school’s first Black scholarship athlete before he was drafted by Boston with the 106th pick of the 1970 NBA draft (there were many more rounds in that era).

Before he finished his NCAA days, he would also win a Gold medal in the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City, Mexico along with future teammate Jo Jo White.

Though drafted by Boston, Scott instead signed with the American Basketball Association’s (ABA — a competing league that would later merge with the NBA) Virginia Squires for most of two seasons.

Eric Williams Jr. announces intention to enter NBA draft, maintain college eligibility

Eric Williams Jr. announced on Thursday that he intends to enter the NBA Draft, but will maintain his college eligibility and use opportunity to get feedback.

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Another member of the 2020-21 Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team is entering the NBA Draft, with forward Eric Williams Jr. announcing on Thursday that he plans to test the draft waters while still maintaining is college eligibility.

The difference between this announcement, and say the ones that we have seen from both Chris Duarte and LJ Figueroa, is that Williams does not plan to hire an agent, so he can still decide to come back to school and play if he isn’t drafted by an NBA team.

“Ever since I was a little kid in Port Huron, Michigan, I have had dreams of playing in the NBA,” Williams wrote on Instagram. “After much thought and discussion with Oregon staff and my family, I have decided to go through the NBA Draft process while maintaining my eligibility as a Duck. I look forward to getting feedback and getting one step closer to fulfilling my NBA dreams.”

This last season, Williams averaged 10.0 points and 6.0 rebounds over 24 games season for the Ducks.

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On this day: Pierce signs with Celts to retire; Bremer signed; Williams born

On this day in 2017, Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce signed with Boston to retire a Celtic, and former wing Eric Williams was born.

On this day in 2017, legendary Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce signed a deal to rejoin the team long enough to retire a Celtic, a franchise he had played with for 15 seasons before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013.

After his time with the Nets, Pierce would play stints with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers before his symbolic return to the franchise that drafted him with the 10th overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft out of Kansas.

Pierce would win a title with Boston in 2008 along with Finals MVP, make 10 All-Star teams, four All-NBA teams and All-Rookie first team in 1999 among several other honors.

He averaged 21.8 points, 6 rebounds and 3.9 assists while with the team.

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