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Eye on the Y: Shaylee Gonzales commits to Texas after leaving BYU

Gonzales entered the transfer portal shortly after the Cougars hired a new coach

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU guard Shaylee Gonzales (2) leads a fast break for the Cougars, in women's basketball action between the BYU Cougars and the Pepperdine Waves, at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.

One of women’s college basketball’s most talented and sought-after players is now off the market.

Shaylee Gonzales on Monday announced on Instagram that she has committed to the University of Texas, a member of the Big 12 Conference.

Gonzales was previously a member of the BYU Cougars. She is the reigning, two-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year.

But over the summer, soon after BYU hired Amber Whiting as head coach to replace the retiring Jeff Judkins, Gonzales entered the transfer portal.

“I am so thankful for all the relationships and memories that were made,” Gonzales said in a statement at that time. “BYU will always have a place in my heart.”

Gonzales was arguably BYU’s best player during the 2021-22 season. She started every game and averaged a team-high 18.3 points per game. She also averaged 5.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists. She has two years of college eligibility remaining.

Losing Gonzales is a huge blow to BYU, which already lost several productive players due to graduation alone. The Cougars are looking to rely on a young core of players to lead them into the next era of the team, including the school’s move to the Big 12 in a year. But just a few months ago, the team was planning for Gonzales to be part of that core.

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