BYU Basketball has started official practice with 15 players on the roster and bigs Jaxon Kohler and Petar Ostojic enrolled and practicing. Below are some updates on the latest news in the BYU basketball world.
Latest on Jaxon Kohler
Jaxon Kohler is eligible right now, but still has markers to cross to stay and remain eligible for the season. The next step for Jaxon is September 29, where the case he is part of has its preliminary injunction hearing in front of the California State Court in Santa Clara, CA at 3:00 PT. Several other states around the country have had similar hearings. Ryan Downton is the managing partner leading most of these cases, and just had a similar case in Indiana where he appeared in court against the NCAA. Downton and his team won the preliminary injunction in the NCAA’s backyard. The latest claim plaintiffs have made against the NCAA is that the NCAA’s own five-for-five rules don’t exclude the class of 2022, which courts have been receptive to.
Several players and coaches part of the California case are going to Santa Clara for the hearing. One source told me Jaxon Kohler and BYU assistant Chris Burgess will be in attendance, and Kevin Young could potentially attend as well.
The courts granting or denying a preliminary injunction isn’t the end of the road, but its an important next step. If the preliminary injunction is granted, the NCAA will almost certainly appeal to have the injunction stayed. If a preliminary injunction is not granted, then Kohler and the other plaintiffs would have to wait until the trial to see if they are eligible.
My take based on conversations with people/lawyers smarter than me: things are trending in the players way. Plaintiffs (the players in this case) are getting more ammo to use against the NCAA that can allow them to play this coming season.
Jaxon Kohler, in my opinion, is the most impactful fifth year player in college basketball that could play this season. Not only because of his talent, but because if he didn’t play what that would mean. With him BYU is a top 15 type team. BYU would arguably have the best spacing on any team in the country, and Kohler would give BYU one of the best shooting bigs in college basketball and an extremely skilled player on the block. He is also a fantastic rebounder and was one of the best in the Big 10 last season. I’d still have questions about BYU’s defense, but Kohler spent four years under Tom Izzo — he will compete his tail off on that end.
Without Kohler, BYU would go with a five spot comprising of Khadim Mboup, Petar Ostojic, and Jake Wahlin. Not ideal. A team that would have lots of shooting and would have some high highs, but a huge question at the center position and would be prone to bad games when shots aren’t falling.
2027 Recruiting
BYU has landed a five-star prospect every offseason Kevin Young has been around — Egor Demin, AJ Dybantsa, and Bruce Branch. BYU is aiming to do the same for the 2027 class. The top freshman I am watching in the 2027 class is AJ Williams.
Williams was the #1 prospect in the 2028 class before reclassifying to 2027, where 247 Sports has him rated #5. A 6-foot-7 wing, Williams is a big-time scorer who BYU has an easy blueprint for how KY would use him — AJ Dybantsa. Williams has taken official visits to Auburn and Mississippi State. North Carolina, Kentucky, Duke, Arkansas and other are also in his other 10. I’m told local school Georgia is a school to watch. Industry sources have told me that BYU right at the top or near the top of Williams’ list as he takes his official visits. BYU is in the process of setting up an official visit. One weekend Williams could visit is the weekend of October 17, where he could attend BYU’s exhibition versus Nebraska and BYU’s football game versus Notre Dame.
BYU is also in the mix for 5-star big man Lewis Uvwo and 4-star big man Cherif Millogo. BYU has been on Uvwo the longest and were his first offer. Big men are going at a premium price, and I don’t see BYU adding Williams plus a top freshman big due to cost. BYU is recruiting both big men, but if the Cougs land Williams then I believe those players would go elsewhere.
DeMarcus Henry is another 5-Star wing. He is LDS and the nephew of former BYU running back Fui Vakapuna. Sources have told me that BYU isn’t considered one of his top options. BYU has been in contact with Henry for months, and with his family connections to BYU you never know if BYU could get in the mix down the road in his career.
Bottom line: I see BYU landing only one 5-star freshman this cycle (imagine reading that sentence before Kevin Young came to BYU). And right now AJ Williams is the top priority.
Closed Exhibition Details
BYU will play a closed scrimmage versus Long Beach State Saturday, October 10 in Provo. This isn’t open to the public, will not be broadcast, and I don’t expect any stats to be released (I haven’t confirmed that, but it’s what I expect). Teams are allowed three exhibition games, and BYU opted to have one of those three closed to the public. The other two exhibitions are versus Nebraska and at UNLV.
Practice Nuggets
I expect BYU’s starting five to be Jaxon Kohler, Tyler Betsey, Bruce Branch, Collin Chandler, and Rob Wright. That’s the group BYU has been running with the most. That lineup would have incredible spacing and have the chance to be the best shooting lineup in college basketball.
Tyler Betsey is someone I’ve heard lots of good things about this offseason and someone coaches expect to take a another jump as a junior. The 6-foot-8 forward was productive at Syracuse last year, averaging 6.7 points on 41% shooting from three. Multiple people have told me that Betsey in practices has been BYU’s best shooter.
