With recent changes to the portal and the advent of NIL, there is increasingly significant overlap between the G League and college basketball in how they prepare players for the League and overseas professional opportunities. Players wanting to go pro can now shop around for an economic and developmental situation that best suits them, and the culture of the game is trending to align more with what developmental leagues represent, albeit with greater tradition and fan support.

BYU administration and donors likely foresaw where the changing college landscape is going and wasted no time when the opportunity to retool the program from the HC down opened up. Many wondered if BYU would fold up the tent and bow out of collegiate sports if the current changes came about. What we’re seeing is a clear commitment on the part of BYU administration to the new landscape. As a result of BYU’s foresight and commitment, we are enjoying early-mover advantage in innovating around the reality of today’s (and tomorrow’s) college basketball game. Everything from staff structure to player recruitment and development are being retooled to align with what the college game is becoming.

It feels great to be ahead of the curve in basketball. Hopefully all the changes taking place translate to success on and off the court.

We’ve got some work to do to make similar changes on the gridiron, but college football’s relationship with the NFL is closer to what basketball is moving toward, so the changes are less dramatic on that front.

Very volatile, but exciting times (given the reality that the days of amateur collegiate play are over — sadly IMO) - grateful that BYU is choosing to be at the forefront.

Go Cougs!