It’s safe to say that entering the 2025-26 season, there has never been, and may never be, more hype surrounding the BYU program than there will be this season.
The Cougars made a splash this offseason by landing prized point guard transfer Robert Wright III from Baylor in the transfer portal. The Cougars also return First Team All-Big 12 selection Richie Saunders and may have the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (AJ Dybantsa) — the No. 2 ranked player in the 2025 recruiting cycle by 247Sports — on the roster.
In his first season at the helm of the BYU program, coach Kevin Young worked magic. The Cougars reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011, when Jimmer Fredette was leading the program to glory. BYU hasn’t been to the Elite Eight since 1981 and seeks its first Final Four appearance in program history this spring.
Dybantsa is a top contender alongside Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson to be the No. 1 pick next summer. For the first time since 2004 (Babby Araujo), BYU produced a top-10 pick. Egor Dёmin, who was Young’s first prized recruit, was selected with the No. 8 overall pick in June’s draft. Shawn Bradley (1993) was selected No. 2 overall and there is a chance Dybantsa could surpass him as the highest-drafted player in school history.
Dribble Handoff: Michigan State, Maryland among college basketball teams expected to regress in 2025-26 season
David Cobb
With college basketball’s player movement all but done, it’s time to start breaking down the rosters of the…
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