Byron Wesley to transfer to Gonzaga

— -- Former USC guard Byron Wesley is heading to Gonzaga for his final season and will be able to play immediately.

The 6-foot-5 transfer, who led the Trojans in scoring last season, told ESPN that he has opted to play for Mark Few and Gonzaga over Oklahoma State and Pittsburgh.

"It starts with the winning culture," Wesley told ESPN on Sunday of his decision to pick Gonzaga. "They've been to the NCAA tournament 16 straight times, and it's an opportunity for me to play in the tournament in my last year."

Wesley will take advantage of the NCAA's graduate transfer rule in which players are able to play their final year of eligibility immediately if they have graduated and want to pursue a degree that isn't offered at their current school.

Wesley averaged a team-high 17.8 points and 6.4 rebounds last season for a USC team that finished 11-21 overall and 2-16 in Pac-12 play.

He will fill a huge void for a Gonzaga team that will have a pair of senior guards in Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr., also returns big man Przemek Karnowski and adds transfer Kyle Wiltjer and two talented freshmen -- point guard Josh Perkins and skilled power forward Domantas Sabonis.

"It's a team that returns a lot of veterans and will be ranked somewhere in the top 15 or so in the preseason," Wesley added. "I built a great relationship with the coaching staff, and one thing they stressed is that it's a great situation for me because they don't have anyone like me. It's a perfect fit."