Here's a loose idea of what has happened with BYU players/commits this offseason since the end of last season (including departures of previously committed players)
Additions |
Departures |
Egor Demin (97+) |
Collin Chandler (97) |
Mawot Mag (90) |
Jaxson Robinson (95) |
Keba Keita (89*) |
Aly Khalifa (91) |
Brooks Bahr (89) |
Noah Waterman (89) |
Elijah Crawford (88) |
Isaac Davis (88) |
Brody Kozlowski (88) |
Marcus Adams (87) |
|
Spencer Johnson (N/A) |
|
Atiki Ally Atiki (N/A) |
Of those 14 players (8 out, 6 in) only a few are following the traditional in/out path (graduating or coming in from HS with no previous commitments). Specifically, only Spencer Johnson and Brooks Bahr. Which seems insane that we have SO much turnover.
Our team is basically those 6 new guys, Hall and Saunders (who nearly left), Knell, Fouss and Baker (who is kind of new as well). We're basically building from near-scratch. And if we get another big recruiting win (fingers crossed), it'll be even less continuity. We will have nothing like what would have been predicted at the end of last season
But the crazy thing is that it isn't just us and not just due to a new coach. It's the reality of college basketball these days.
Look a few miles up the road at Utah
Additions |
Departures |
Ezra Ausur (92) |
Brendan Carlson (N/A) |
Miro Little (91) |
Deivon Smith (96) |
Zach Keller (91*) |
Cole Bajema (95*) |
Jaxon Johnson (90) |
Keba Keita (89) |
Mason Madsen (88) |
Rollie Worster (87) |
Keanu Dawes (88) |
Ben Carlson (84*) |
David Katoa (86) |
Luka Tarlac (N/A) |
|
Wilguens Exacte Jr (N/A) |
Utah (while obviously playing at a much different level) had similar turnover... they lost 8 players (3 to graduation, 5 to the portal) and have picked up 7 new players (5 in the portal, 2 as HS recruits).
Those 7 plus a few holdovers (Gabe Madsen, Lawson Lovering, and potentially Hunter Erickson and Jake Wahlin) basically make up their entire team for next season. Unless they add some other portal guys, and then it will be even less continuity.
Because neither school is done. BYU still (from McCombs and others) is pushing for a few more high-profile adds (though the specific names are generally being kept quiet). Utah is a finalist for Mike Sharavjamts (91).
Utah State famously last year made the tournament and won a game without bringing back a single point from the prior season. And then immediately lost their best player (Great Osobor) to Washington and a $2M NIL deal.
It very much looks like the new normal will be turning over 75+% of your team each and every year.