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Perkins signs with

Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte Hornets president of basketball operations and general manager Mitch Kupchak announced that the team signed former Gonzaga standout Josh Perkins Tuesday. Per Hornets’ team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

During the NBA Summer League, Perkins appeared in four games for the Hornets, starting against the Chinese national team. He averaged 20.8 minutes per game, scoring seven points per outing. He was second on the team dishing out three assists per game. The Park Hill, Colo., native made four three-pointers and finished with 14 points versus the San Antonio Spurs.

In five years at Gonzaga, the 6-foot-3 Perkins averaged 10.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 153 games. In his final season, Perkins was named to the 2018-19 All-West Coast Conference first team and a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award after averaging 11.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 31.3 minutes as a redshirt senior. The 23-year-old led the conference in total steals (54) and placed second in total assists (234) and assists per game (6.3) during the 18-19 season. As a junior, Perkins averaged 12.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Perkins went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Perkins finished his illustrious career second in NCAA Div. I history with 134 wins, with only 19 losses. He played more games (153) than any other active player in the nation this season, and was one of only 15 players in NCAA Div. I history to play 150 games in a career.

Perkins became Gonzaga’s all-time assist leader with 712 in his five-year stint. His 712 assists rank fifth in West Coast Conference history. The redshirt senior’s 234 assists in 2018-19 are the most in a single season in program history, while his 54 steals rank eighth. He is second all-time at GU with 178 steals in his career, fifth with 251 made three-pointers and 12th with 1,562 points. This season, Perkins was seventh in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.12), eighth with 234 assists and 16th averaging 6.3 assists per game. He led the WCC this season in total steals and assist-to-turnover ratio.

Perkins was a Bob Cousy Award Finalist for the top point guard in the country. He was tabbed All-WCC first team for the second time and was named conference Player of the Week twice this season.

Perkins was named the 2019 West Coast Conference Mike Gilleran Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He completed his degree in Sport Management and is wrapping up his master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. He finished his undergraduate career with an impressive 3.24 GPA and currently holds a 3.66 GPA in his graduate program. In each of the last two years, the Park Hill, Colo., native has received West Coast Conference All-Academic team recognition. He also earned his way onto the WCC Commissioner’s Honor roll list the past three years.

Washington State center

named to Watch List

Washington State senior center Frederick Mauigoa was named to the Polynesian College Player of the Year Watch List, The Polynesian Hall of Fame announced.

Mauigoa is one of 62 players named to the watch list for the award presented to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity. The Iliili, American Samoa native received the same recognition prior to last season and former Cougar All-American defensive lineman Hercules Mata’afa won the award in 2017.

Earlier this summer, Mauigoa was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List (Top collegiate center) for the second straight season. Mauigoa earned All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention last season after starting all 13 games at center and blocked for the nation’s top passing offense. The Cougar offensive line blocked for 24 rushing touchdowns, allowed the eighth-fewest sacks in the country and was one of 10 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best offensive line. Mauigoa has started 25 straight games at center for the Cougars.

The winner of the 2019 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on Dec. 17. Five finalists will be unveiled on Dec. 5. The presentation of the Award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner (Jan. 17, 2020) at the Sheraton Waikiki and they will also be recognized at halftime of the Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 18, 2020) at Aloha Stadium.