Latest news with #BYUBasketball
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BYU Basketball Offers No. 1 Recruit in the 2027 Class on Father's Day
BYU Basketball Offers No. 1 Recruit in the 2027 Class on Father's Day originally appeared on Athlon Sports. At midnight on Father's Day, BYU took the opportunity to offer top recruit Baba Oladotun. It was the first hour college basketball coaches were permitted to start contacting recruits in the 2027 recruiting class. The five-star, 6-foot-10 phenom has made his way in many NBA circles. He was introduced to several general managers, executives and scouts at the USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp in Colorado Springs, Colorado last October. He's the nation's top ranked player for a reason and shares many similarities to AJ Dybantsa. Advertisement Oladotun, a junior at Maryland's Blake High, has a high shot release and true athleticism. His unique skill set for a young player with a rare talent and drive have some comparing him to Kevin Durant. BYU and head coach Kevin Young have definitely turned heads by pulling in top talent. The Cougars signed the nation's top recruit in Dybansta out of the 2025 recruiting class. He's part of a top lineup that has been getting national attention. Related: BYU's AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball's Top NIL Earner BYU is hoping that a successful season could put them on the map as an emerging basketball powerhouse. After Egor Demin's successful true freshman season in Provo, they're hoping Dybansta can solidify his status as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Oladotun, a junior at Maryland's Blake High, has a high shot release and true athleticism. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BYU Basketball Pursues 5-Star Recruit Anthony Thompson
BYU Basketball Pursues 5-Star Recruit Anthony Thompson originally appeared on Athlon Sports. BYU basketball is generating major buzz as it prepares for one of its most anticipated seasons, led by projected superstar AJ Dybantsa, the nation's top-ranked player who reclassified to the 2025 class. BYU freshman AJ DybantsaAJ Dybantsa/BYU Athletics Building on this momentum, BYU is aggressively pursuing elite talent for the future, with five-star small forward Anthony Thompson emerging as a top target. Thompson, a 6'8' standout from Western Reserve Academy in Ohio, recently narrowed his college choices, including BYU among top programs like Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas. Advertisement Ranked as the ninth-best player in the nation by On3, Thompson is known for his versatile skillset and has drawn national attention after a strong showing at the Adidas Eurocamp in Italy. He also recently signed a NIL deal with Adidas. Coming off a Sweet 16 appearance last season, their first since 2011, the Cougars have heightened expectations. With talent like Dybantsa already in place and prospects like Thompson considering Provo, BYU is aiming not just to return to the NCAA Tournament, but to make a legitimate push for a Final Four run. The program is clearly positioning itself for sustained national prominence. Related: BYU Football Reportedly in Two-Team Race for Top 2026 Quarterback Related: BYU's AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball's Top NIL Earner This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BYU Basketball Shows Interest in Rising International Star
BYU Basketball Shows Interest in Rising International Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kevin Young and the BYU Cougars are targeting 7-foot-3 Italian center Luigi Suigo. The 2026 recruit reportedly has the Cougars on a short, according to Joe Tipton of On3. Advertisement The big man is expected to be visiting a few Big Ten programs, but could make a trip to Provo in the near future. Louisville, Kentucky, and Texas A&M are also pursing. Suigo played last season for Olympia Milano and also stood out in the adidas Next Gen Tournament Euros earlier this year. In the title game of that event, he finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Related: BYU's Price for Winning Comes at a Cost to Fans During the 2024 U17 FIBA World Cup, Suigo averaged 7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Suigo was also one of 60 invitees to the NBA's Basketball Without Borders Europe, rising his international profile. Advertisement Related: CBS Sports Names BYU National Championship Contender Next Year What makes Suigo intriguing is his size, but Mhis Basketball IQ could be his most underrated characteristic. If BYU can make an impression early, they have a decent chance to land him. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BYU football recruit sparks buzz as MVP of Under Armour Next Camp
When Bott Mulitalo lines up in the trenches, you can feel the shift. Pads pop a little louder. Coaches stop mid-sentence. Recruits watch quietly. And last weekend at the Under Armour Next Camp in Salt Lake City, the Lone Peak standout made sure everyone knew why he's BYU's top offensive line commit in the class of 2026. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Mulitalo left no doubt, taking home the Offensive Line MVP award after a commanding performance that showcased his raw strength, balance, and explosiveness against the best competition from across the West. The four-star recruit didn't just win reps—he erased defenders. Advertisement Mulitalo, who is currently rated No. 90 overall in the 2026 class by 247Sports, has transitioned from the defensive line to offensive tackle, a move that looks more genius by the day. While he continues to refine his pass-blocking sets, his natural ability to anchor and drive defenders into the turf is already at a collegiate level. It wasn't just the trophy that made headlines—it was who he did it in front of. The Salt Lake City edition of the Under Armour Camp drew elite talent from states like Arizona, California, Oregon, and Colorado. Among the BYU faithful, though, Mulitalo's performance stood tallest. He was one of five Cougar commits competing, part of a strong showing from BYU's 2026 class that also included fellow four-star Brock Harris. Mulitalo's early commitment to BYU came after flipping from Oregon, largely due to his growing connection with offensive line coach TJ Woods. That bond now looks like a cornerstone in BYU's rebuilding strategy up front. The message from Mulitalo this weekend was clear: he's not just committed—he's coming for dominance. Advertisement If this is what he's doing before his senior year, just imagine the impact when he finally suits up in Cougar blue. Related: AJ Dybantsa take his talents to international stage Related: BYU Basketball players are turning heads for unexpected choice
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
CBS Sports analyst drops bold prediction for BYU Basketball next season
BYU Basketball is getting national hype going into the next season. After top recruit AJ Dybantsa arrived on campus the feeling around the program has intensified. This comes months after Kevin Young's first year with the Cougars ended in a Sweet 16 loss to Alabama. Most analysts have BYU as a top 10 team going into the 2025-26 college basketball season. Jon Rothstein believes this could be a historic year for Young's team and sees a deep tournament run on the horizon. "I think if you're a BYU fan now and you went to the Sweet 16 without a talent like [AJ Dybantsa], the goal and the realistic expectations for BYU should be to go to a Final Four. And I don't even think that's anything that should blink at," Rothstein said on his podcast. BYU not only has Dybantsa, but Baylor transfer Rob Wright will be one of the best guards in the nation. Richie Saunders is a proven All-Big 12 talent and put off the NBA to "run it back" in Provo. While Dybantsa already said he's out after the upcoming season, he'll be a leader on this team and a likely candidate to be the top overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Advertisement Related: BYU Basketball players are turning heads for unexpected choice If BYU can reach the final phase of March Madness, it would be unprecedented. The Cougars have only experienced one Elite Eight run under the current NCAA tournament format. Danny Ainge led the Cougars to the best result in 1981. Since then, the 2011 team came close with a 83-74 Sweet 16 overtime loss to No. 2 seeded Florida. Related: AJ Dybantsa admits BYU wasn't top school, blown away by NBA ready program Needless to say, the expectations are high for BYU this year. If they come together and play outstanding basketball, the sky's the limit. It's not unrealistic to say the Cougars could be the team to beat in the Big 12.
