It is protected to say that coming into the 2025-26 season, there has by no means been, and will by no means be, extra hype surrounding the BYU program than there shall be this season.
The Cougars made a splash this offseason by touchdown prized level guard switch Robert Wright III from Baylor within the switch portal. The Cougars additionally return First Workforce All-Massive 12 choice Richie Saunders and will have the potential No. 1 general choose within the 2026 NBA Draft (AJ Dybantsa) — the No. 2 ranked participant within the 2025 recruiting cycle by 247Sports — on the roster.
In his first season on the helm of the BYU program, coach Kevin Younger labored magic. The Cougars reached the Candy 16 for the primary time since 2011, when Jimmer Fredette was main this system to glory. BYU hasn’t been to the Elite Eight since 1981 and seeks its first Closing 4 look in program historical past this spring.
Dybantsa is a prime contender alongside Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Kansas‘ Darryn Peterson to be the No. 1 choose subsequent summer season. For the primary time since 2004 (Babby Araujo), BYU produced a top-10 choose. Egor Dёmin, who was Younger’s first prized recruit, was chosen with the No. 8 general choose in June’s draft. Shawn Bradley (1993) was chosen No. 2 general and there’s a likelihood Dybantsa might surpass him because the highest-drafted participant in class historical past.
Dribble Handoff: Michigan State, Maryland amongst faculty basketball groups anticipated to regress in 2025-26 season
David Cobb
With faculty basketball’s participant motion all however completed, it is time to begin breaking down the rosters of the game’s prime packages. For this installment, we’re looking at BYU and attempting to decipher what its lineup might seem like when the season begins.
The most effective analytics-based groups in 2025? The BYU Cougars. The Cougars have continued to load up within the portal, including freshman phenom Rob Wright III amongst others. The workforce additionally brings in potential No.1 general choose AJ Dybantsa. Gary Parrish and particular visitor Evan Miyakawa look underneath the hood at what BYU may be in 2025-2026.
Projected beginning lineup
1. Robert Wright lll | 6-1 | 195 | So.
Wright was the most important identify BYU introduced in by way of the switch portal this offseason. The previous Baylor star was the No. 8 general participant obtainable within the 247Sports switch portal rankings and is coming off an outstanding freshman marketing campaign. Wright averaged 11.5 factors, 4.2 assists and a pair of.1 rebounds and began in 21 of 35 video games. Wright brings a direct scoring punch to BYU’s lineup and has big-game expertise.
2. Kennard Davis Jr. | 6-6 | 215 | Jr.
Davis was the No. 56 general participant obtainable within the 247Sports switch rankings and is predicted to start out subsequent to Wright within the backcourt. The previous Southern Illinois star averaged 16.3 factors, 4.9 rebounds and a pair of.6 assists. Davis supplies capturing (37.6% from the 3-point line) and protection (1.3 steals) to the BYU lineup.
3. AJ Dybantsa | 6-9 | 210 | Fr.
Dybantsa is the headliner of the brand new faces on BYU’s roster for apparent causes. He would be the most gifted recruit to ever swimsuit up for BYU and has an actual likelihood to be picked No. 1 subsequent summer season. At 6-foot-9, Dybansta already has an NBA-ready body and is the prototypical jumbo wing that groups on the subsequent degree covet. If he can develop as a three-level scorer this season, the sky is the restrict on what BYU can accomplish.
4. Richie Saunders | 6-5 | 200 | Sr.
Saunders is probably the most skilled participant returning to this system. He averaged 16.5 factors, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists and earned all-conference honors. Throughout his profession at BYU, he has appeared in 103 video games, with 35 of his 38 profession begins coming final season. He related on 43.2% of his makes an attempt from past the arc. He supplies extra capturing for an offense anticipated to be elite this season.
5. Keba Keita | 6-8 | 231 | Sr.
Keita began in all 35 video games, much like Saunders, and averaged 7.4 factors and seven.9 rebounds. He started his profession at Utah, the place he made 13 begins throughout his first two seasons in faculty basketball. Keita averaged a career-high in blocks (1.2) and area aim proportion (67.3%) final season. He will not must do a lot offensively, however he can present worth together with his capacity to complete at a excessive clip across the rim.
Off the bench
Nate Pickens | 6-3 | Sr.
Pickens involves BYU after spending the primary three seasons of his profession at UC Riverside. He appeared in 96 video games throughout these three seasons and began 31 of 33 video games final yr. Pickens averaged 9.8 factors and shot 39.2% from the 3-point line.
Dawson Baker | 6-4 | 190 | Sr.
Baker shall be a depth piece for BYU. The previous UC Irvine star transferred to BYU in 2023 and has appeared in 40 video games throughout these two seasons. He averaged 7.5 factors and shot 38% from the 3-point line final season.
Tyler Mrus | 6-7 | 205 | Jr.
Mrus is considered one of many new faces on this BYU roster. He averaged 9.7 factors, 3.2 rebounds and 0.6 steals in 31 video games final yr at Idaho. He ranked as a three-star switch within the 247Sports rankings.
Mihailo Bošković | 6-10 | Sr.
Bošković was on BYU’s roster final season and appeared in 30 video games. He averaged 3.6 factors, 1,7 rebounds and 0.4 assists. His position ought to improve this yr after he logged simply over 11 minutes per recreation final season.
Dominique Diomande | 6-8 | 190 | Fr.
Diomande joined Washington‘s roster late (in January) and didn’t seem in a recreation final season. He most lately performed 26 video games for ADA Blois of the France-ProA U21 league. He averaged 16 factors and shot 51.9% from the ground in these video games.
Filling out the roster
BYU completed with the Thirteenth-ranked recruiting class within the 247Sports rankings, largely because of the addition of Dybansta. Nevertheless, the Cougars have been additionally ready so as to add two extra four-star recruits to the roster in Xavion Staton (No. 37 general) and Chamberlain Burgess (No. 101 general). It is unclear if both participant will play a big position due to the depth on the roster. Regardless, they might get a chance sooner or later this season.
- Xavion Staton | 6-11 | 207 | Fr.
- Chamberlain Burgess | 6-9 | 205 | Fr.
- Dawson Baker | 6-4 | 190 | Sr.
Market watch
BYU’s odds to win 2026 NCAA Match (by way of Fanduel): +2000
BYU is tied with Louisville, Texas Tech and Kansas at 20-1 to win the 2026 NCAA Match. Purdue (9-1) is the present favourite, adopted by Houston, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, UConn, Michigan and St. John’s. It is not stunning that BYU has favorable odds to win the nationwide title as a result of, from a pure expertise perspective, BYU ranks above most groups in that division.
My prediction for BYU is that, at minimal, they are going to be a workforce that reaches the second weekend of the NCAA Match. The ceiling for this workforce — relying on how Dybansta performs — is evident. BYU shall be a highly regarded Closing 4 choose and will problem Houston for the Massive 12 common and convention titles. If all goes properly, BYU may very well be enjoying for the proper to play for a nationwide title over the last weekend of the school basketball season subsequent spring.