Recruiting 25-26/Roster for 26-27

[falafel]

I believe this is correct. I don't know where the medical retired thing comes from. He popped his ACL. These days you can come back from that.

That was just my recollection. I thought I saw an IG post where he said his BYU career was done, but I may have been mistaken. And he may have changed his mind. I would love to have him back. We really needed a player like him this season off the bench.

[BigFatMeanie]

I think Bruce Branch is a good pickup and hopefully a building block for next season. How KY builds his roster for next year will be interesting given how this year transpired. I tend to think continuity is a benefit and a worthwhile goal in college basketball. BYU has many players on its roster that could return for next year but some, perhaps many?, are likely going to enter the portal. While there are players I hope are on the roster next season for various reason those who belong to the "he will be missed" category are honestly few. Those I would prefer are back next year are: Wright, Mboup, Kostic, Diomande, Staton, Abdullah, KJ Perry. It won't break my heart if others return or if they leave. It will take a while to work itself out and both the portal and the larger roster size make for an exciting time in the spring where hope springs eternal.

??? Goat, I generally agree with your basketball takes but this one is a head scratcher. You seriously want Abdullah back? I’m struggling to figure out what part of his game you like because I can’t think of anything I like about his game.

[Bo Diddley]

??? Goat, I generally agree with your basketball takes but this one is a head scratcher. You seriously want Abdullah back? I’m struggling to figure out what part of his game you like because I can’t think of anything I like about his game.

I mean, he's no Khalifa. Amirte.

[BigFatMeanie]

I mean, he's no Khalifa. Amirte.

LOL - No he’s not. Ahmed can’t shoot, has zero post moves, can’t rebound all that well for his size, and lacks the passing ability of Khalifa. He’s more athletic than Khalifa was but that’s not saying much. I didn’t think it was possible to have a player whose game I hated more than Khalifas, but Ahmed is a contender.

People are impressed by the fact that he was in the G League but he sucked there too. I’m hoping Goat isn’t guilty of over-valuing the G League resume item.

[Goatnapper'96]

??? Goat, I generally agree with your basketball takes but this one is a head scratcher. You seriously want Abdullah back? I’m struggling to figure out what part of his game you like because I can’t think of anything I like about his game.

I think he is a very good rim protector and rebounder. He came into a difficult situation, joining mid-season, and has been dinged up. He was highly recruited by Kelvin Sampson and Houston before choosing BYU. I don't believe it is a good sign if he is the starter but I am absolutely convinced he is capable enough to play 10 mpg off the bench for a very good BYU team.

[Goatnapper'96]

Rumors are that Wright is likely gone. He is asking for a fortune.

Would like to have Mboup back for sure. And Dawson Baker. And Kostic maybe. Don't care one way or the other on the rest.

I think Wright will be a spectacular college point guard the next two years. Perhaps he moves on to a higher bidder, but I would love it if he returns to BYU next year. I am of the opinion that he and the JC PG BYU brought in mid-season, KJ Perry, could play together on the court for short stretches. I think he can be a more complete player, i.e. defend better than a Matador-OLE, if he isn't expected to play 38-40 mpg. My guess is next year with KJ Perry he is more of a 30-32 mpg player. That was probably the plan this season but Nate Pickens' injury ended that hope.

This year's draft has some really good one and done guys who are going to make this draft pretty fantastic. My guess Wright's chances of getting drafted are probably more likely in a less fantastic draft which I think will be the case in 2027. I will be surprised if he jumps after this year. I am skeptical about his NBA prospects no matter what-but this draft is not for Rob Wright the first, second or third.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I think Wright will be a spectacular college point guard the next two years. Perhaps he moves on to a higher bidder, but I would love it if he returns to BYU next year. I am of the opinion that he and the JC PG BYU brought in mid-season, KJ Perry, could play together on the court for short stretches. I think he can be a more complete player, i.e. defend better than a Matador-OLE, if he isn't expected to play 38-40 mpg. My guess is next year with KJ Perry he is more of a 30-32 mpg player. That was probably the plan this season but Nate Pickens' injury ended that hope.

This year's draft has some really good one and done guys who are going to make this draft pretty fantastic. My guess Wright's chances of getting drafted are probably more likely in a less fantastic draft which I think will be the case in 2027. I will be surprised if he jumps after this year. I am skeptical about his NBA prospects no matter what-but this draft is not for Rob Wright the first, second or third.

Gone to another school is what I meant.

[PaloAltoCougar]

i liked Wright's post-game response to whether he'll be back:

If I am being honest, I haven’t even thought much about that,” he said. “I am just trying to help us win games and then we will see. … I am super excited to be a part of the BYU family, and I just love it here.

Bottom line and obvious conclusion: If he's offered a much bigger bag than whatever the wealthy BYU backers are willing to pay, he's gone. But if they're fairly close, he'll stay.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Gone to another school is what I meant.

Well, so much for that rumor. This is encouraging.

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[falafel]

Well, so much for that rumor. This is encouraging.

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Very encouraging! I wonder how much Branch 3 has to do with this.

[Donuthole]

Well, so much for that rumor. This is encouraging.

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I mean, that's what I'd say too right now.

[Omaha 680]

If we are talking about offensive needs, I would rather upgrade shooting and trade Rob for a PG who sees other players on his team when he enters the lane than keep the status quo. Ideally, take the giant bag we are paying Rob and split it between a couple decent catch and shoot guys and a D1 PG who likes to pass. Rob is a huge talent but he frustrated me this year more than anyone I can remember ever cheering for. His decision making in key moments this year brutal. Zero defensive effort from your PG who plays most of the game also isn't super useful.

KY gets a mulligan because of all the injuries but I am officially nervous about his roster construction approach in the college game. I worry the NBA iso-ball offense was not just a product of having AJ and Rob but KY's preferred approach. His talk of portal priorities centering entirely around better shooting doesn't calm that fear. Our inability to beat lesser teams and advance a couple rounds in the tournament this year after key injuries was more about lack of defense and interior presence than lack of shooters. The defensive issues were there all year, they just became insurmountable when the injuries piled up.

But really I don't know a whole lot other than I hated our offense and lack of defense this year. Winning is what matters and if KY can do it by finding more offense and outscoring teams I will happily enjoy it. And if he retains Rob and figures out how to channel his immense talent into more of a team effort I will gladly say I was wrong about everything.

[Pelado]

If we are talking about offensive needs, I would rather upgrade shooting and trade Rob for a PG who sees other players on his team when he enters the lane than keep the status quo. Ideally, take the giant bag we are paying Rob and split it between a couple decent catch and shoot guys and a D1 PG who likes to pass. Rob is a huge talent but he frustrated me this year more than anyone I can remember ever cheering for. His decision making in key moments this year brutal. Zero defensive effort from your PG who plays most of the game also isn't super useful.

KY gets a mulligan because of all the injuries but I am officially nervous about his roster construction approach in the college game. I worry the NBA iso-ball offense was not just a product of having AJ and Rob but KY's preferred approach. His talk of portal priorities centering entirely around better shooting doesn't calm that fear. Our inability to beat lesser teams and advance a couple rounds in the tournament this year after key injuries was more about lack of defense and interior presence than lack of shooters. The defensive issues were there all year, they just became insurmountable when the injuries piled up.

But really I don't know a whole lot other than I hated our offense and lack of defense this year. Winning is what matters and if KY can do it by finding more offense and outscoring teams I will happily enjoy it. And if he retains Rob and figures out how to channel his immense talent into more of a team effort I will gladly say I was wrong about everything.

Mostly agree. Not ready to jettison Rob yet but understand that might be necessary.

[Goatnapper'96]

If we are talking about offensive needs, I would rather upgrade shooting and trade Rob for a PG who sees other players on his team when he enters the lane than keep the status quo. Ideally, take the giant bag we are paying Rob and split it between a couple decent catch and shoot guys and a D1 PG who likes to pass. Rob is a huge talent but he frustrated me this year more than anyone I can remember ever cheering for. His decision making in key moments this year brutal. Zero defensive effort from your PG who plays most of the game also isn't super useful.

KY gets a mulligan because of all the injuries but I am officially nervous about his roster construction approach in the college game. I worry the NBA iso-ball offense was not just a product of having AJ and Rob but KY's preferred approach. His talk of portal priorities centering entirely around better shooting doesn't calm that fear. Our inability to beat lesser teams and advance a couple rounds in the tournament this year after key injuries was more about lack of defense and interior presence than lack of shooters. The defensive issues were there all year, they just became insurmountable when the injuries piled up.

But really I don't know a whole lot other than I hated our offense and lack of defense this year. Winning is what matters and if KY can do it by finding more offense and outscoring teams I will happily enjoy it. And if he retains Rob and figures out how to channel his immense talent into more of a team effort I will gladly say I was wrong about everything.

Coaches learn and grow but if there are large scale changes in personal I take it as a sign that KY is either changing philosophy or he did a poor job in evaluation. The primary reason I hope there is not significant turnover is I want to believe KY has a plan and that the plan doesn't change every year.

I am nor sure what I mean by "significant turnover" yet.

[Goatnapper'96]

Word is Staton is hitting the portal.

Potential Returning Players:
Ahmed
Mboup
Kozlowski
Diomande
Kostic
Baker
Pickens
Wright
Perry

Confirmed Incoming Recruits
Branch
Reukert
Bahr

Potential Incoming Recruit
Burgess

That leaves room for 2 new recruits/portal additions without any other of the returning players going into the portal.