A Promising Offseason Amid Transition
The 2026 offseason has been marked as a success for the BYU Cougars, as the program managed to finalize a full roster despite a wave of departures.
Analysts have praised the early construction, assigning a B‑ from Field of 68 and a B+ from Jeff Goodman, a former ESPN analyst, noting the retention of key players and the strategic additions.
Frontcourt Uncertainty
The roster overhaul involved losing NBA draft prospects AJ Dybantsa and Richie Saunders, as well as starting center Keba Keita and seven other transfers, leaving a void in the paint.
To address that void, the Cougars brought in former Syracuse forward Tyler Betsey, former Clemson forward Jake Wahlin, and former Kentucky wing Collin Chandler, while also securing Jaxon Kohler, a former Michigan State center, through court rulings and the transfer portal.
Head coach Kevin Young managed to keep point guard Robert Wright III, who had previously visited Kentucky, ensuring continuity at the backcourt, while Jakub Urbaniak joined in July, though questions remain about the team’s ability to compete in the Big 12 without a dominant starting center.
The overall outcome reflects a positive trajectory for coach Kevin Young and his staff, who began from a clean slate five months ago and now look to translate this momentum into conference play.