BYU has secured a major recruiting victory by landing Jaxon Kohler, a 6‑foot‑10 center who spent the last four seasons at Michigan State. His commitment came after a highly publicized recruitment that also featured Kentucky, Louisville and Kansas, and it marks a significant addition to the Cougars' frontcourt.
A Strategic Addition for the Cougars
Kohler arrives in Provo after earning All‑Big Ten Honorable Mention honors in his final season with the Spartans, where he averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting 50% from the field and 39% from three‑point range. The 4‑star recruit from Utah was named Utah 6A Player of the Year in 2021 and helped lead Wasatch Academy to a strong prep‑school profile before his collegiate career.
The center’s eligibility was extended through a preliminary injunction in Colorado and a separate order that allowed him to enter the transfer portal, granting him a fifth year of NCAA competition. His experience includes eight NCAA tournament appearances, highlighted by an Elite Eight run in 2025, providing the Cougars with a seasoned presence that should translate into immediate on‑court impact.
Coach Kevin Young emphasized that Kohler’s shooting ability will improve BYU’s perimeter spacing, a facet the program has struggled to perfect in recent seasons. Pairing his skill set with the existing addition of Polish import Jakub Urbaniak, the Cougars now possess a more balanced and deeper frontcourt, positioning them to compete among the nation’s elite.
The roster still holds one open scholarship spot, which could be filled later in the recruiting cycle or even midseason, but for now the focus is on integrating Kohler into the system. His arrival not only addresses a long‑standing uncertainty at the center position but also signals BYU’s intent to leverage experience and talent to chase a deep tournament run.