BYU basketball: Cougars land Vegas standout

PROVO — The BYU Cougars received another official basketball commitment Thursday when Las Vegas combo guard Anson Winder signed to play for the Cougars next season.

Winder, a 6-foot-3 senior at Bishop Gorman High, signed his letter of intent at school Thursday morning and then faxed it to the BYU basketball office. He and Provo High guard/forward Kyle Collinsworth are the only two early-signing commitments that BYU expects to sign before spring. The Cougars still have one, and possibly two, scholarships to fill prior to next season.

Playing for coach Grant Rice at Bishop Gorman, brother of BYU assistant Dave Rice, Winder averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and three assists per game as a junior last season for the Gaels. During summer tournaments, however, Winder's offensive numbers exploded. He scored 36 points in one game and 40 points in another.

Winder's strengths are his shooting and ability to get to the basket. The Cougars will likely use him at both the one and two guard positions.

"We're pleased to have signed Anson Winder," BYU coach Dave Rose said. "He's a versatile guard and a terrific athlete. Anson is a very capable scorer and takes pride in being an excellent defender and rebounder. He will flourish in our transition game. Anson is a dedicated team player and was an integral part of Bishop Gorman High School's state championship team last season. He plays for a very successful high school coach, Grant Rice."

Cougar senior Jonathan Tavernari also played high school basketball at Bishop Gorman.

Besides Collinsworth and Winder, the Cougars will also have forward Chris Collinsworth (Kyle's older brother) and point guard Nick Martineau back from LDS Church missions next season. The older Collinsworth, like his brother, prepped at Provo High. Martineau played for the Davis Darts. Both Martineau and Chris Collinsworth played one season before departing on their missions, and will be sophomores when they suit up for the Cougars next year.

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