Kevin Young’s third offseason at BYU has been quite eventful.
While seven Cougar players have left the program, Young and his staff have added three intriguing transfers who appear poised for crucial roles in Provo.
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Additionally, BYU has managed to retain star point guard Rob Wright III after his brief entry into the portal, giving the Cougars a dynamic keystone to build their team around.
Young clearly isn’t done building his roster — BYU still needs a pair of big men and probably another guard as well — but the early offseason moves are an encouraging start.
Here’s what BYU’s head coach has said about each of his new signees from the portal.
Collin Chandler: ‘One of the premier 3-point shooters in the country’
BYU fans know Chandler well, as the former top local prospect committed to the Cougars back in 2021 before following Mark Pope to Kentucky.
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Chandler appeared in 66 games across two seasons with the Wildcats, most recently averaging 9.7 points per contest as a sophomore and shooting 46% from 3-point range in SEC play.
Young said. ”His passion for the game and his ability to make winning plays all over the floor is going to make everyone around him better,” Young said of Chandler in a statement.
“He showed that he is one of the premier 3-point shooters in the country last season and wasn’t afraid to take and make big-time shots.”
Tyler Betsey: ‘A great fit’
Shotmaking proved difficult for BYU this past season, but Betsey could help solve such a dilemma.
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The stretch forward from Syracuse shot a team-high 40.7% from behind the arc last season, averaging 6.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 18 minutes per game.
Against ACC foes, Betsey sank 44% of his 3-pointers, hitting six in a single game against Florida State and five in a conference tournament outing against SMU.
”We have put a focus on shooting this offseason, and he fits that profile after shooting 41% from three last season,” Young said of Betsey in a statement.
“At 6-foot-8, he has the ability to guard multiple positions. His ability to stretch the floor, along with his versatility and potential on the defensive end, make him a great fit.”
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Jake Wahlin: ‘He impacts winning’
Wahlin comes from a family with deep BYU roots, and now he’ll get to add his own contribution to such a legacy on the Marriott Center hardwood.
Similar to Chandler, Wahlin was a Cougars commit in high school but flipped elsewhere after his Latter-day Saint mission, landing at Utah for two seasons and spending this past year at Clemson.
The 6-foot-10 forward from Provo has played in 88 games during his college career, averaging 5.8 points and 4.4 rebounds since the start of 2024.
“He knows what it takes to compete at the highest level having played in two of the best conferences in the country,” Young said of Wahlin in a statement.
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“He has the ability to stretch the floor and rebounds the ball at a high level. We’re really excited about his versatility and the way he impacts winning.”
Rob Wright III: ‘The best point guard in college basketball’
While Wright isn’t new to BYU, keeping him in Provo is definitely Young’s most important win of the offseason. Sometimes the best gets are the ones you already have, after all.
In his first campaign as a Cougar after transferring from Baylor, Wright averaged 18.5 points, 4.6 assists per game and shot 41% from 3-point range to earn All-Big 12 Third Team honors.
“Rob is the best point guard in college basketball,” Young said in a statement.
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“He is poised to lead our team as the floor general and help be an extension of our staff. I’m looking forward to continuing to coach Rob and help him develop his game.”
