BYU’s season ended over a week ago, but the building for next season’s roster is in full swing. BYU already has two key freshmen signed for next season’s roster in 5-star wing Bruce Branch and 4-star local wing Dean Rueckert. Both give BYU much needed shooting, and Branch gives BYU a potential third straight lottery pick.
The transfer portal officially opens Monday, April 7, but players around the country are already making their intentions known to enter the portal. This is the “pre-portal” period where agents and handlers are wheeling and dealing with program all across the country to line up deals for their clients. BYU isn’t any different from any other program — they are partaking in the pre-portal process to see what potential players could fit into next season’s roster.
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One reminder before I give my thoughts that are either my opinions, sourced, or a mixture of both. I’ve accumulated several contacts that are agents, AAU coaches, handlers, family members, and other people in the industry over the years that know the landscape.
Who Leaves from BYU’s current roster?
As of this publishing, zero BYU players have declared their intention to transfer. That will change. Richie Saunders, Keba Keita, Mihailo Boskovic, and Jared McGregor are seniors are out of eligibility. One source told me that Boskovic has a case to petition the NCAA for another year of eligibility. If he got another year I suspect he’d be at a different school.
And let’s be honest — AJ is coming back. Don’t keep that thought in your mind.
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Let me start by saying this. I wouldn’t be surprised if any BYU player transferred. Eight BYU players could transfer out and I wouldn’t be shocked. I’m not saying that will happen. It’s just the nature of college basketball. Every player is year to year. Even BYU’s most loyal player Richie Saunders entered the transfer portal player after his sophomore year and gave it some thought after his junior year.
The biggest decision is All-Big 12 guard Rob Wright. Wright has said that if he returns to college then it will be BYU. Rob isn’t a NBA prospect right now. Industry sources have told me his agents haven’t been shy shopping him to other programs the last month or so. That isn’t uncommon for any player. And Rob’s history should suggest we shouldn’t be surprised if he leaves. He signed his NIL contract at Baylor and then hit the portal before ultimately signing with BYU. BYU would like to keep Rob. He has two years of eligibility remaining and would bring much needed continuity and a foundational piece to go along with Bruce Branch. Rob’s ultimate decision is the biggest factor on what will happen to BYU’s offseason. Whether it’s Rob or someone else, BYU will have to shell out seven-figures for a good starting point guard.
Players have until April 21 to enter the transfer portal.
Who are some potential targets?
Coaches can’t officially contact players until the portal opens April 7, but the backchanneling is in full force right now. Every program has a big board right now of needs and targets.
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There are two clear needs BYU will address. Other needs will depend on who transfers out.
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Shooting. KY has said since he stepped onto campus that you can never have too much shooting. And immediately following BYU’s loss to Texas, KY said BYU needs more shooting next seasons. One source told me that BYU will not prioritize non-shooting five men in the transfer portal.
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Big Man. BYU’s starting center is not on the roster. I expect Abdullah Ahmed to transfer out. And if Xavion Staton stays on the roster, he’s not ready to be your starting center day next season. KY said after the Texas loss BYU needs a more “rugged” big man to compete in the Big 12. I expect a starting center to be one of BYU’s three or four highest paid positions on the roster. Three potential names to watch if they hit the portal — Arizona State’s Massamba Diop, Cincinnati’s Moustapha Thiam, and UNC’s Henri Veesaar. All three are future NBA players and had their head coach fired. Any one would instantly be a top 5 or 10 player in the portal. And all three would carry a massive price tag north of 2 or 3 million dollars. Every top school would be interested, BYU included.
Now I’ll get into some individual BYU players that I’ve either heard from sources are BYU targets or am just giving my opinion of someone BYU could pursue. All these below players have announced they will enter the transfer portal. This is a very early list that will evolve as more players enter the portal.
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Stefan Vaaks, Providence Wing — The 6-foot-7 freshman made the Big East All-Freshman team after averaging 15.8 points on 91-260 (35%) shooting from three. Vaaks averaged 8.4 three-point attempts per game, more than the 6.8 per game Richie attempted. BYU showed some interest in Vaaks before he went to Providence before they ultimately passed. Sources have told me that BYU has shown interest in Vaaks this time around. His price will get high, so we’ll see if BYU pursues him as aggressively as other schools do. I have questions about Vaaks defense, but he fits the mold as a type of long catch-and-shoot guy KY would want.
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Jake Wahlin, Clemson Forward — BYU fans are familiar with Jake. The 6-foot-10 forward signed with BYU before his mission before coming home and playing two seasons at Utah and one at Clemson. Wahlin started 29 games for Clemson and averaged 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds on 34-100 shooting from three. Wahlin could be a bench piece for BYU, but one connected industry source told me BYU is unlikely to pursue Wahlin at this time.
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Ryder Frost, Notre Dame Wing — A four-star prospect out of high school, Frost had a quiet freshman season for Notre Dame. Frost averaged just 2.7 points, but did shoot 20-52 (38%) from three. BYU recruited Frost in high school, where he was touted as one of the top shooters in the class. Will Voigt has a close relationship with Frost’s family, and Kevin Young was involved in his recruitment too. Frost is a strong bounce back candidate at his next school who should be able to be a great catch-and-shoot guy at 6-foot-7.
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Karson Templin, Utah State Forward/Center — Templin is a LDS player who played three years at Utah State and recently announced that he will enter the portal. Templin was the MWC Sixth-Man of the Year, averaging 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1 block in just 19 minutes. He also shot 21-64 (32%) from three. Templin’s greatest strength is his motor. He plays hard and creates extra possessions. Templin is listed at 6-foot-9, and high major programs will need to decide if he’s big enough to play the five and mobile enough to guard the four consistently in a league like the Big 12. I like Templin and would like to see BYU pursue him. Cincinnati certainly will with Jerrod Calhoun going there, but Templin would be interested in BYU if they make a real push. He’d make a great piece for BYU off the bench.
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Parker Friedrichsen, Davidson Guard — The 6-foot-4 guard played two seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to Davidson. Friedrichsen had a nice season at Davidson, averaging 10.8 points on 41% shooting from three. Friedrichsen is an elite catch-and-shoot guy who Kevin Young could pitch a Trevin Knell-type role. Coaches on BYU’s staff have recruited him before, and a source close to Parker told me that BYU will be involved this time on his recruitment.
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Ethan Copeland, Stetson Guard — Copeland is a returned missionary who had a big season for Stetson. Listed at 6-foot-2, Copeland averaged 15 points and was one of the nation’s best shooters, shooting 109-254 (43%) from three. Copeland has one year of eligibility remaining, and he told me that he’s always wanted to be a Cougar. We’ll see what BYU decides to do. If Copeland was a little taller, he’d be a no-brainer. I could see BYU potentially pursuing Copeland more after they fill out the roster a bit more and see where things land. I think he would be a fit as a end of rotation piece on 15-man roster who would compete for playing time if his shooting translates up to the Big 12 level.
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Jackson Holcombe, UVU Wing — Another returned missionary, Holcombe had a great season for UVU. Jackson led UVU in points (16 ppg), rebounds (7 rpg), and steals 2.2. A 6-foot-7 wing, Holcombe can get to the rim and defends hard. His knock is his shooting. He shot 6-37 from three and at this point of his career is a non-shooting wing. Holcombe does so many things well, but Kevin Young has made clear he is prioritizing shooting. We’ll see if the other things he does well are enough for BYU to make a real push.
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Trevan Leonhardt, UVU Point Guard — Another RM, Leonhardt averaged 12 points, 6 assists and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 37% from three. Leonhardt could make sense as a backup point guard if BYU saw that fit. Leonhardt has one year of eligibility left, and he has the makeup as someone that could end up at Utah State for his last year.
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Isaac Finlinson, Hawaii Wing — I’ll continue the LDS theme here. After playing at Utah Tech at Snow College, Finlinson had a nice season for the Rainbow Warriors. A 6-foot-8 wing, Finlinson averaged 9.2 points on 34-87 (39%) shooting from three. I haven’t heard much chatter on BYU’s interest in Isaac, but I’ll include him due to the local connection and solid college production.
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Neoklis Avdalas, Guard — A 6-foot-9 international point guard who had lottery pick aspirations? If any college coach knows how to work with that, it’s Kevin Young and the work he did with Egor Demin. And that’s what Avdalas is. If Rob Wright did transfer (I’m not saying he is!) then Avdalas would make a lot of sense for BYU. Even if Wright sticks around then maybe Avdalas still does. Avdalas was getting lottery hype and getting called “baby Luka” after his ridiculous highlights in a 33-point performance versus Providence. For the season, Avdalas averaged 12 points and 4.6 assists on 38% shooting from the field and 31% from three. He wasn’t as consistent in ACCC play after he struggled with more physical players and his shot wasn’t consistent. His talent level is tantalizing, and in the right system he could develop into a lottery pick next season.
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Chol Machot, Charleston Center — Machot is one of the top bigs currently in the portal. After a year at JUCO, the 7-footer had a great first D1 season as a sophomore. In just 19 minutes per game, Machot averaged 8.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. He was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year. Kevin Young loves mobile bigs who can protect the rim, and Machot fits that mold. He is listed at just 190 pounds and needs to get stronger to better compete at the high major level, but he has the skillset to be a NBA player someday.
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Anton Bonke, Charlotte Center — BYU recruited out of JUCO when Mark Pope was head coach. After a season at Providence, the 7-foot-2, 270 pounds big man went to Charlotte this year where he averaged 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. Bonke I don’t think would be BYU’s first choice, but in a portal where quality bigs are usually at short supply he is an early name to monitor.
Other names to watch
I have to mention Collin Chandler and Mason Falslev. Neither has said if they will portal, but BYU fans are monitoring both for obvious reasons. Falslev was the MWC POY and Collin Chandler made a nice sophomore jump, averaging 9.7 points on 41% shooting from three. For comparison, Richie Saunders as a sophomore averaged 9.6 points on 36% shooting from three.
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If Collin does portal, BYU would be a strong contender and possibly the favorite. Collin was obviously committed to BYU before his mission, and Kevin Young could sell him the same development trajectory that Richie Saunders had. BYU would pursue Falsev as well, but I expect Cincinnati and Virginia would be strong possibilities.
International Nugget
BYU is active in the international market. Assistant John Linehan is in Paris this weekend scouting high major prospects that BYU could add this next season.
