Gonzaga ‘felt like home’ to Anton Watson as Gonzaga Prep standout makes official decision to join Bulldogs

Gonzaga Prep’s Anton Watson officially signed his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to join the Gonzaga men’s basketball program next season after orally committing last June.

Watson has been courtside for the first few GU home games, absorbing the atmosphere that will become his home next season.

“Gonzaga felt like home to me,” Watson said. “It is literally right down the street from my house. I love all the coaches, the players. I feel like it is a family environment and I am excited to play for them.”

He becomes the fifth high school player from Spokane to join the Zags since 2000, joining Sean Mallon (Ferris), Adam Morrison (Mead), David Stockton (G-Prep) and Chris Sarbaugh (G-Prep).

Last June, Watson orally committed to GU after the Zags were the first to offer him a Division I scholarship.

“Most of the other schools stopped talking to me (after the commitment to GU),” Watson said.

GU gave Watson a chance to compete at a high level, something he has dreamed of since he was young.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to play college basketball,” Watson said. “I want to experience the NCAA Tournament.”

But the current Bullpup still has his senior year of high school to play. G-Prep should be near the top of Washington state high school rankings when the season begins early next month.

“I want to win state, first of all,” Watson said. “There are going to be some tough teams that want to beat us, but I don’t want to lose this year.”

Even if he misses his old high school when he graduates next spring, a quick jaunt up Hamilton will bring him back to the place that helped him get his start.

“(G-Prep) has been there since the beginning. They helped me through this process so much,” Watson said. “I give them all my respect and I’ll be here supporting them through all my years.”