BYU Basketball 2016-2017

[jay santos]

It appears to me that the staff has lost confidence in Aytes. It will be interesting if he returns or not. I was hoping that he would step up and be able to be a contributor and if he can't this year I am doubtful he will be given much of a chance for next year. I am interested how the situation with the bigs works itself out. Mika will start at the 5 and I expect Corbin to back him up. I expect Davis to start at the 4 but am curious who else will get minutes there. I have some concerns about Yoeli Childs. I think Krysto is a dick, but I think he is a good coach and the fact that he did not offer Childs has me concerned Yoeli will be overrated. I have read a few times about Dastrup getting overweight. The coaching staff is clearly giving Hartsock minutes so I expect he will get some time as well but I am interested to see the real impact Childs will make and whether or not Dastrup ends up redshirting to allow him time to get back into shape and perhaps stretch out his eligibility. On the other hand perhaps even if he is a bit tubby-tubby he is good enough to contribute. Time will tell.

It will be interesting to see who develops into the go to guy for next years squad. I know the chatter is that Elijah Bryant is unstoppable. But that is what we heard about Kyle Davis. I like Kyle and he is a solid 4 but he is clearly stoppable and not capable to be a guy that can put a team on his back. I hope Mika is our best post player next year and develops into demanding the most attention. Kyle is best in a complimentary role. I think BYU can be really good when Mika and Emery are juniors but I just imagine it will take a year to work out who the man is going to be. The problem this year is that Kyle is good but he is not a scorer so for him to thrive he needs a man and our options to be the man are just not that good. I believe the next crop is deeper as to options but we still need one to step up and be a stud. If we had Tyler this year we would be a potential sweet 16 club. Should have redshirted him one year.

I'm curious about Bryant. I hope he becomes the solid third starter with Emery and Haws and that those three get significant minutes as our bench is thin at the wing position.

The bigs will be interesting. I've never been that big on Dastrup, but I hope I'm proven wrong. I'm seeing a three way rotation of Mika, Davis, and Kaufusi getting most of the 4-5 minutes. I'd like to see Kaufusi and Mika start together, and for Kaufusi to actually get starters minutes. That would be a very solid interior defensive team. Mika was 12 and 6 his frosh year. Kaufusi would easily be producing that much this year if he was playing starters minutes. I see Kaufusi on a trajectory that is leading to beast mode at some point in the future. I hope Rose gives him the minutes to develope there.

I think Childs will do well. I don't think he'll be a superstar. But that's a need we have. That small 4 that can defend in the middle and stretch defenses and be smooth offensively. I think most likely Utah didn't offer him because he was a bit of a late bloomer.

[BlueK]

I think Krysto is a dick, but I think he is a good coach and the fact that he did not offer Childs has me concerned Yoeli will be overrated.

That may be true, but an alternative to that idea is that from using ESPN to look at Utah's recruiting targets at the time, they thought they were in the running for some players rated higher than Childs, and they didn't get any of them. But by then it was too late to go back to Childs.

I think 2016 was the year Larry K penciled in for when he was going to complete the shift from JC-focused recruiting to being able to land some of the players the UCLAs and Arizonas can get. Childs wasn't at that level. But then it never materialized for him and his strategy was a flop. Now he's losing most of his talent after this year and isn't replacing it, so he can't risk the embarrassment of losing to BYU next year.

[smokymountainrain]

I'm curious about Bryant. I hope he becomes the solid third starter with Emery and Haws and that those three get significant minutes as our bench is thin at the wing position.

The bigs will be interesting. I've never been that big on Dastrup, but I hope I'm proven wrong. I'm seeing a three way rotation of Mika, Davis, and Kaufusi getting most of the 4-5 minutes. I'd like to see Kaufusi and Mika start together, and for Kaufusi to actually get starters minutes. That would be a very solid interior defensive team. Mika was 12 and 6 his frosh year. Kaufusi would easily be producing that much this year if he was playing starters minutes. I see Kaufusi on a trajectory that is leading to beast mode at some point in the future. I hope Rose gives him the minutes to develope there.

I think Childs will do well. I don't think he'll be a superstar. But that's a need we have. That small 4 that can defend in the middle and stretch defenses and be smooth offensively. I think most likely Utah didn't offer him because he was a bit of a late bloomer.

I don't have near the optimism about Kaufusi as you do, but I agree that Childs will be a pretty major contributor even as a freshman. He's Aytes if Aytes were an explosive athlete and knew how to play basketball. I was never all that impressed with Dastrup either and now hearing that he's fat doesn't help, but I still have hope that he'll bring actual basketball skill to the table and be a positive part of the rotation.

[Jeff Lebowski]

It appears to me that the staff has lost confidence in Aytes. It will be interesting if he returns or not. I was hoping that he would step up and be able to be a contributor and if he can't this year I am doubtful he will be given much of a chance for next year. I am interested how the situation with the bigs works itself out. Mika will start at the 5 and I expect Corbin to back him up. I expect Davis to start at the 4 but am curious who else will get minutes there. I have some concerns about Yoeli Childs. I think Krysto is a dick, but I think he is a good coach and the fact that he did not offer Childs has me concerned Yoeli will be overrated. I have read a few times about Dastrup getting overweight. The coaching staff is clearly giving Hartsock minutes so I expect he will get some time as well but I am interested to see the real impact Childs will make and whether or not Dastrup ends up redshirting to allow him time to get back into shape and perhaps stretch out his eligibility. On the other hand perhaps even if he is a bit tubby-tubby he is good enough to contribute. Time will tell.

It will be interesting to see who develops into the go to guy for next years squad. I know the chatter is that Elijah Bryant is unstoppable. But that is what we heard about Kyle Davis. I like Kyle and he is a solid 4 but he is clearly stoppable and not capable to be a guy that can put a team on his back. I hope Mika is our best post player next year and develops into demanding the most attention. Kyle is best in a complimentary role. I think BYU can be really good when Mika and Emery are juniors but I just imagine it will take a year to work out who the man is going to be. The problem this year is that Kyle is good but he is not a scorer so for him to thrive he needs a man and our options to be the man are just not that good. I believe the next crop is deeper as to options but we still need one to step up and be a stud. If we had Tyler this year we would be a potential sweet 16 club. Should have redshirted him one year.

Childs is now on the ESPN top 50. Buck up man and have some faith.

[Goatnapper'96]

I'm curious about Bryant. I hope he becomes the solid third starter with Emery and Haws and that those three get significant minutes as our bench is thin at the wing position.

The bigs will be interesting. I've never been that big on Dastrup, but I hope I'm proven wrong. I'm seeing a three way rotation of Mika, Davis, and Kaufusi getting most of the 4-5 minutes. I'd like to see Kaufusi and Mika start together, and for Kaufusi to actually get starters minutes. That would be a very solid interior defensive team. Mika was 12 and 6 his frosh year. Kaufusi would easily be producing that much this year if he was playing starters minutes. I see Kaufusi on a trajectory that is leading to beast mode at some point in the future. I hope Rose gives him the minutes to develope there.

I think Childs will do well. I don't think he'll be a superstar. But that's a need we have. That small 4 that can defend in the middle and stretch defenses and be smooth offensively. I think most likely Utah didn't offer him because he was a bit of a late bloomer.

Perimeter players for next year are:

Emery - SO
Bryant - SO
Chatman - SO
Hartsock ? - SO
Haws - FR
Beo - FR

I am assuming that Toolsen doesn't return. That puts BYU at 12 allocated scholarships for next year (Davis, Aytes, Kaufusi, Mika, Emery, Chatman, Bryant, Shaw, Hartsock, Haws, Dastrup, Childs). The question as to scholarship 13 comes down to Beo or another recruit unless Jamal Aytes transfers or moves along somehow. From where I sit I think BYU could use a JC perimeter player if they can find one. Otherwise they are looking at backing up Bryant, Haws and Emery with Chatman, Hartsock and Beo. That is not a good situation as BYU is one injury away from playing a questionable freshman, Stephan Beo, or a physically limited Hartsock major minutes on the perimeter. So if Aytes is coming back then Beo needs to walk on for at least one year, but if Aytes moves on then BYU ought to go get a JC perimeter player. It would also add some balance to the roster.

[Green Monstah]

I don't think Aytes will be back. He's got a big body and a huge wingspan. He just doesn't have the coordination necessary to be a D-1 player.

[BlueK]

Perimeter players for next year are:

Emery - SO
Bryant - SO
Chatman - SO
Hartsock ? - SO
Haws - FR
Beo - FR

I am assuming that Toolsen doesn't return. That puts BYU at 12 allocated scholarships for next year (Davis, Aytes, Kaufusi, Mika, Emery, Chatman, Bryant, Shaw, Hartsock, Haws, Dastrup, Childs). The question as to scholarship 13 comes down to Beo or another recruit unless Jamal Aytes transfers or moves along somehow. From where I sit I think BYU could use a JC perimeter player if they can find one. Otherwise they are looking at backing up Bryant, Haws and Emery with Chatman, Hartsock and Beo. That is not a good situation as BYU is one injury away from playing a questionable freshman, Stephan Beo, or a physically limited Hartsock major minutes on the perimeter. So if Aytes is coming back then Beo needs to walk on for at least one year, but if Aytes moves on then BYU ought to go get a JC perimeter player. It would also add some balance to the roster.

The other possibility would be to try to land a graduate transfer player for that 13th scholarship.

[cougjunkie]

I don't think Aytes will be back. He's got a big body and a huge wingspan. He just doesn't have the coordination necessary to be a D-1 player.

Haha. You do realize Luke Worthington started for this team last year.

Aytes has a D-1 skillset, he is only a freshman and he has been plagued by injuries. He has shown flashes of promise and I think he will continue to improve and be a very solid player for BYU.

[imanihonjin]

Haha. You do realize Luke Worthington started for this team last year.

Aytes has a D-1 skillset, he is only a freshman and he has been plagued by injuries. He has shown flashes of promise and I think he will continue to improve and be a very solid player for BYU.

Aytes isn't a freshman. He is a dude who is 3 years removed from playing high school ball and is either injured or looks completely overmatched and lost. I have a hard time seeing ever contributing at BYU.

[Green Monstah]

Haha. You do realize Luke Worthington started for this team last year.

Aytes has a D-1 skillset, he is only a freshman and he has been plagued by injuries. He has shown flashes of promise and I think he will continue to improve and be a very solid player for BYU.

You are correct that a player with less coordination than Aytes has recently played for BYU. Of course Mika, fatty Dastrup, Davis, and Kaufusi were not all on that roster.

[Goatnapper'96]

Haha. You do realize Luke Worthington started for this team last year.

Aytes has a D-1 skillset, he is only a freshman and he has been plagued by injuries. He has shown flashes of promise and I think he will continue to improve and be a very solid player for BYU.

I agree that he can be fine as far as ability goes. Why I wonder if he moves along or is moved along is whether or not he will get the opportunity. If Yoeli Childs is as good as his rankings indicate and Dastrup develops, where is Aytes role or chance to prove himself? If Childs meets the hype then BYU will be fine next year without Aytes. They will start Davis and Mika is athletic enough to play the 4. So with Childs BYU has 3 capable players at the 4 and a fourth if you include Noah Hartsock. It isn't that Aytes is totally incapable as much as the question is whether or not a diamond, in Yoeli Childs, just fell into BYU's lap.

I do think BYU needs a JC perimeter player so it seems to me that either Beo walks on a year, as was agreed upon at least once upon a time as I don't know what the agreement is now, or BYU needs to cut lose a big.

[BlueK]

Aytes isn't a freshman. He is a dude who is 3 years removed from playing high school ball and is either injured or looks completely overmatched and lost. I have a hard time seeing ever contributing at BYU.

There's no question that the Aytes we are seeing now is not going to be able to contribute. The problem is knowing if his injury issues are the primary reason for that. If so, he may still have a chance assuming he can get healthy and have an offseason to get back into shape. He didn't have that last year because he was hurt. Or he may end up like others like him who could never get to or stay at playing level because of injury: C. Collinsworth, Rogers, Harward...etc.

[New Mexican Disaster]

There's no question that the Aytes we are seeing now is not going to be able to contribute. The problem is knowing if his injury issues are the primary reason for that. If so, he may still have a chance assuming he can get healthy and have an offseason to get back into shape. He didn't have that last year because he was hurt. Or he may end up like others like him who could never get to or stay at playing level because of injury: C. Collinsworth, Rogers, Harward...etc.

Aytes is an undersized, slow, turnover machine. Unfortunately I don't see any of that changing.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Aytes is an undersized, slow, turnover machine. Unfortunately I don't see any of that changing.

Yeah, he has been terrible. Can't imagine him seeing the floor next year.

[wapiti]

Unfortunately, I don't think a Davis/Mika combo will work out well unless Davis can make open 3's consistently. He should spend most of the summer working on the corner 3 and the top of the key. If he can hit 38% from those spots he'll get lots of opportunity with Mika drawing a lot of attention inside. Otherwise teams will be able to double off Davis, clog the middle, and bog down the half court offense.