Well, the hardwood version of the Apple Cup just got a little more heated.

After three seasons in Pullman with the Cougars, former Washington State forward Noah Williams announced on Instagram Monday that he intends to transfer to crosstown rival Washington.

 

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Williams has already had a remarkable history in the Apple Cup and this should only add to it. As noted by The Spokesman-Review’s Colton Clark, Williams once hushed a “U-Dub reject” chant in Seattle after knocking down a pair of game-clinching free throws that secured Wazzu a 78-74 win. The Seattle native yelled back, “This is my city.”

Now it’s once again his home.

Cougar center Efe Abogidi had the perfect reaction.

The son of former Washington State great Guy Williams, Williams broke out immediately as a freshman. He started 40 of 56 games played in his first two seasons, earning an All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection for the 2020-21 season after averaging 14.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.6 steals. Over his first two seasons, Williams was consistently a disruptive force on the defensive end.

That intensity and focus wanned and waxed during the 2021-22 season. And at the other end, Williams struggled to adapt to a more secondary role on the wing. As Washington State’s offense moved to focus more around transfer guards Michael Flowers and Tyrell Roberts, Williams struggled to find his place. He averaged 9.5 points a game still, but his shooting cratered. A 38% shooter from distance as a sophomore, Williams shot just 26% from 3 this past season.

In the team’s four-game run through the NIT, Williams lost his spot in the starting five to sophomore guard TJ Bamba.

Now, twice a year at the very least, they’ll be guarding each other.