SPOKANE -- Gonzaga starting point guard Demetri Goodson is leaving the program to pursue a college football career.
Goodson informed Gonzaga head coach Mark Few of his decision on Tuesday.
“I have decided to pursue football next year,” said Goodson, who would have been a senior on next year’s Bulldog basketball team. “I would like to thank my coaches and staff for the opportunity to play here. I also want to thank the city of Spokane and all of the Zags fans who have supported me over the years. It’s been an awesome experience.”
“He wants to finish his NCAA eligibility playing football,” Few said. “After having convinced us he would finish his degree then we were all in support of his decision. He has been a great teammate and I have the utmost respect for his toughness and he always played and practiced hard.”
Goodson started 68 of 69 games the last two seasons for Gonzaga, but he lost minutes towards the end of the 2010-2011 season to freshman David Stockton. He averaged 5.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season.
Gonzaga fans will most remember Goodson for his length-of-the-court drive and floater against Western Kentucky with .9 seconds left to lift the Bulldogs to an 83-81 victory in the NCAA Tournament second round in Goodson’s freshman year in 2009.
Goodson could have up to two years of football eligibility remaining.
Goodson’s brother, Mike, is a running back for the Carolina Panthers. He played for Texas A&M in college. All signs point to Demetri joining the Aggies as well.
Goodson stopped playing high school football after his sophomore year in high school in Spring, Texas, but still received offers from Arizona State and Big 12 programs.
