Oregon forward Eric Williams Jr. makes surprising decision regarding future

After a disappointing second round exit in the NIT last week, Oregon forward Eric Williams Jr. has elected not to return to the program for a sixth season and turn professional, according to reports. The senior tested the NBA Draft waters last season, but ultimately decided to return for one more year.

The Port Huron, Michigan, native began his collegiate career at Duquesne in 2017-18. He transferred to Oregon for the 2020-21 season, playing a total of 121 college games and averaged 11.7 points and 6.8 rebounds throughout his career.

Williams averaged 8.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in 33 games for the Ducks this season. He notched 11 starts over that span. In the Ducks’ last game on March 19, a 75-60 loss to NCAA Tournament snub Texas A&M, Williams scored 13 points on 3-5 shooting from behind the arc.

The 6-foot-7, 200-pound senior shot 37.6% from the field (35.1 percent, 3-point) and 67.9% from the free throw line during his final campaign. Compare that to high slightly higher overall stats from his first season in Eugene, when he averaged 10.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 39.3% from the field, 34.8% from three, and 73% from the line while appearing in 24 games with 21 starts.

Oregon went from a potential Pac-12 championship contender to losing seven of its last 10 games. In mid-February, the Ducks were taking No. 1 seed Arizona to the limit — exactly one month later, their season comes to an end in the second round of the NIT by Texas A&M, which calls for change within the Oregon program.

“We’re gonna have to make some adjustments to our staff, figure out our players who want to be there, the transfer portal,” Oregon head coach Dana Altman said. “We’ll probably have some guys go and some guys stay, and that’s their right. That’s their opportunity. I only want guys that want to be at Oregon and are fully invested in our program.”