Season Outlook - BYU Cougars

While several marquee basketball dominant athletic programs, across the NCAA landscape, have made significant fortification towards resourcing their programs, almost to the point of creating "NBA style" environments, to sustain any incremental advantage to bring about a national championship intention year-over-year, there seems to be a program that is completely bought into their vision, of being able to cut the net in Indianapolis, at the conclusion of the 2025/2026 season. The current iteration of the Bringham Young Cougars Men's Basketball program, is not only looking to be one of the most exciting collections of basketball talent, solely because the almighty AJ Dybantsa, but with an roster that contains four players with prior international, professional, experience, under the radar transfer portal additions, as well as the electric backcourt duo of Rob Wright III and Richie Saunders, the depth of this personnel has every aspect to contend for an national championship. Combine that with a professionally minded, and forged leader, from the NBA level, in Head Coach, Kevin Young, and the outlook of anything less than Final Four contention seems incomprehensible for this team. As the expectation runs high, coming off an Sweet Sixteen appearance, the individual characters that make up this years refortified group, bring forth an, exciting refinement, to the continuing force from the deserts of Utah, that has been unleashed upon the the collegiate basketball world.

Of course, while the attention of the squad goes to the generational talent that is,

AJ Dybantsa, the plethora of newcomers to Provo, bring about an additional tenacity of skill and competitiveness, to further complement the domination and execution that is projected in a Dybantsa led team. His fellow Utah Prep teammate, the 2024 Nevada Gatorade Player of The Year, and a Top 100 Prospect, of the same class, Xaivian Stanton, begins his collegiate chapter, in tandem in the front court, once again, with Dybantsa. While the addition of two, top, incoming freshman, bolstered the competitive prowess, of the Cougar's, it is the seasoned additions from both, the transfer portal, and international recruiting, that bring about a deep enhancement to the team. In being a leader program in identifying, and recruiting, the best talent, worldwide, which landed them current Brooklyn Nets Rookie, and Real Madrid U-18 sensation, Egor Demin, last season, the Cougars continue their trailblazing recruitment methods with the addition of Austrian wonderkid, Aleksej Kostic, who's offensive creativity and smoothness, at both the European International Tournament level, for his country, and in the Professional First Division, in Austria, is a considerable pickup for a program valuing tried, and proved, hoops prospects, the world over.

The Cougars approach of recruiting at the Transfer Portal factor, is intriguing in itself. Taking into account the methodical signings of Low Major to Power 4 major athletes, in the four additions of, Dominique Diomande, incoming Redshirt Sophomore from the Washington Huskies, who has yet to touch the court in college, but was a plus two-way athlete, in the French LNB Espoirs (U-21) League, for two seasons; Nate Pickens, Senior from UC Riverside, that is a three-point specialist and high motor guard, and was a key performer for the Highlander's Men's program for three seasons; along with Tyler Murs, the Senior from the Idaho Vandals, who is also a range shooting threat, and a high effort wing; and with, Kennard Davis, Jr., who not only was one of the two best players for the Southern Illinois Salukis, along with current Texas A&M Guard, Ali Dibba, last season, but was also accoladed with the Missouri Valley Conference All Second Team, and Most Improved Team; creates an impressive collective of under the radar signings to further enforce every positional depth. Include the fact that Cougars won the Rob Wright III recruiting sweepstakes, to further the notion they went from being, more than likely, one of the highest projected offenses in Division 1, to absolutely will be a, if not the, top offensive threat of the 2025 / 2026 season.

Encapsulating the juggernaut of a roster, are returners, Richie Saunders, Keba Keita, Khadim Mboup, Mihailo Boskovic, and Dawson Baker. As much as the never ending cycle of recruiting continue to permeate itself, in every other facet of collegiate basketball, having a group that has been bought into a system, and dedicates themselves to it, season-over-season, is something that is not only unique in our modern era, but speaks for the commitment of the program towards its players. Take Saunders for instance, the senior, who has spent his entire collegiate career in Provo, has seen an complete uptick in his impact on the court, earning him the 2025 Big 12 Most Improved Player and All Second Team, since his usage went up through Young's offense, since the coach took the helm in 2024, Saunders junior season. Through buying into his own game, and trusting the environment that has been built by BYU and Kevin Young, the Utah native, has earned preseason award watchlist nods, an ode to show that the culture in Provo, is genuinely crafting competitors and preparing future professionals, for the highest levels.

Contributor: Alan Alcantar