Final Four 2017 Media Day

Gonzaga's Nigel Williams-Goss answers questions at media day for the Final Four on Thursday, Mach 30, 2017 at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

(Sean Meagher/The Oregonian)

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- There is no doubt that Silas Melson and Nigel Williams-Goss exude home-state pride.



As the pair of talented Gonzaga guards worked to help the Bulldogs reach their first NCAA Tournament Final Four, they cheered on the Oregon Ducks from afar as UO reached its first Final Four since 1939.



"I've said if for whatever wacky reason we didn't win the national championship, I would love to see Oregon do it," Williams-Goss said Thursday. "Just because it's good for West Coast basketball."



Said Melson: "That's my state. To have my school and my state represented in the Final Four is very impressive."



But when both were high school recruits, there also was no doubt to them that their best college opportunities laid beyond Oregon's borders.

Melson, a Jefferson High School graduate who played with UO's Jordan Bell during AAU, picked Gonzaga in 2014. Oregon's interest picked up after he'd verbally committed to coach Mark Few, a Creswell native and University of Oregon grad, but his commitment didn't waver.



Williams-Goss grew up in Portland and Happy Valley before playing in high school at Nevada's Findlay Prep. He chose Washington in 2015 and ultimately transferred after two seasons and sat out last year. This winter, he became a national player of the year candidate after averaging 16.7 points per game. Together, they helped Gonzaga earn a No. 1 NCAA tournament seed.

By seeking their opportunities elsewhere, he and Melson were not exceptions, but the rule. Homegrown stars such as Jefferson's Aaron Miles, Lake Oswego's Kevin Love, South Medford's Kyle Singler all were past high-profile examples of those to commit to established out-of-state powers before becoming decorated collegiate stars.



But with Oregon having played in at least the Elite Eight in consecutive seasons while winning back-to-back Pac-12 titles, Melson and UO freshman guard Payton Pritchard believe future top in-state recruits might not opt to leave the state should Oregon continue to rub elbows with the country's most successful programs.

"A lot of high schoolers would love to play in-state but if you're asking a guy like me, that didn't have any contribution of where I wanted to go play basketball," said Melson, who is averaging 7.3 points as a reserve, including a West Coast Conference-leading 49.1 percent shooting from three. "It was just where my best future would be at and Gonzaga was the place. To answer your question, a lot of in-state players would love to play for an in-state school and represent their state so it would be ideal for people to start going there more.

One who did is Pritchard. The West Linn prodigy initially committed to Oklahoma, where his mother and father attended, while Oregon was recovering from the fallout of three players dismissed from school after accusations of rape.



"Oregon was in a rough stage," Pritchard said. "Oregon showed growth and I really wanted to stay home and play for the Ducks."



Pritchard hopes Oregon's success this season, and his role in it, might set off a run of stars staying home.



"I want to go back and be someone so many young kids can look up to," Pritchard said. "Someone who came through the high school system at Oregon and played at Oregon and hopefully more high schoolers who are talented can join us here."



Gonzaga plays South Carolina in a national semifinal Saturday at 3 p.m. PT, with Oregon facing North Carolina at 5:49.



-- Andrew Greif

agreif@oregonian.com

@andrewgreif