GCU

Royce Woolridge to play final season at GCU

Richard Obert
azcentral sports
Former Washington State guard Royce Woolridge will play his  final college basketball season at Grand Canyon University.

Royce Woolridge, who was twice chosen All-Arizona during his high school career at Phoenix Sunnyslope, is coming home.

He will play his final college basketball season at Grand Canyon, which began the four-year period moving from NCAA Division II to Division I status this school year.

Woolridge, who began his college journey at Kansas, is getting his degree this semester from Washington State, making him eligible to play next season for the rebuilding Antelopes, who went 15-15 in Dan Majerle's first season as coach.

"I'm extremely excited," said Woolridge, who led Sunnyslope to a state championship his junior season in 2008-09. "I can't wait to come back home and be around my family.

"It's an honor to play for Coach Dan (Majerle)."

Woolridge, who averaged 29 points his senior season at Sunnyslope, said the main reason he wanted to return to his Valley roots is to be near his ailing grandmother. His father, former NBA player Orlando Woolridge, died two summers ago.

Woolridge was impressed by his visit to GCU last week. He got to take a peek at the arena, which is currently undergoing renovations to increase capacity from around 5,000 to more than 7,200 next season.

Woolridge will be joined in the backcourt by former Phoenix Mountain Pointe star Jerome Garrison, who will be a senior. Garrison was one of GCU's top players last season.

Former Peoria All-Arizona point guard Dewayne Russell transferred before last season from Northern Arizona. He will be eligible in December.

Woolridge, who can play either guard position, had a college career high 36 points during his redshirt sophomore season against Oregon.

He started 28 of 31 games for Washington State last season.

Woolridge's extensive Pac-12 experience should bolster a young GCU team next season.

"I love that (Majerle's system) is uptempo," Woolridge said. "He's a player's coach. He runs an NBA offense. It's perfect."