BYU Basketball Recruiting Notebook: Rob Wright Decision, Recruiting News
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BYU Basketball has six players in the transfer portal and, for now, must replace their entire starting five for next season. 5-Star Bruce Branch will start next season, and BYU added another starter with Collin Chandler’s commitment. It’s still early in the portal and process, and BYU has several needs to go to fill out its roster.
Below are some of things I am hearing.
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Rob Wright Decision
Rob entered the transfer portal last Wednesday. As I reported previously, his camp had been openly shopping him around for over a month. Rob asked BYU for a number that would have made him one of the highest paid player in college basketball, and as much as BYU wanted to keep him around, they couldn’t/wouldn’t pay that number.
At that time I thought there was virtually zero chance Rob would return, but since then sources have indicated to me that there is a real chance Rob returns to BYU. Rob’s asking price has since come down, and throughout this whole time Rob has liked BYU and Kevin Young. Rob likely isn’t a NBA player, and these next two years represent the chance for him to make the most money in his life. I don’t blame him/his family/his “people” wanting to maximize his earnings.
Washington transfer Zoom Diallo’s decision is worth monitoring. The point guard visited Kentucky and is one of the top point guards in the portal. If he commits to UK, then their interest in Rob likely falls off. If he goes elsewhere, then Kentucky will have more interest in Rob. Kentucky is one of the schools that has been on Rob the most.
I wouldn’t call BYU the favorite to get Rob since other schools are lurking that have lots of money, but there has been some recent momentum on BYU’s side. Rob likes BYU. We’ll if the money can work out.
Keanu Dawes Decision
The Utah forward announced in late March that he would enter the portal. The 6-foot-9 forward was one of Utah’s top players this past season, averaging 12.5 points and 8.8 rebounds on 55% shooting from the floor and 31% from three. Keanu really struggled with his 3-point shot in non-conference, but in Big 12 play shot 37% from three and made over one per game. In the game in Provo he scored 23 points and shot 4-5 from three.
Sources have told me BYU is one of the favorites to land Dawes. BYU recruited Dawes in high school when Mark Pope was coach. The Houston native is LDS and his uncle, Derek Dawes, played for BYU in the mid-2000s. Houston and Texas were considered the two favorites when he entered the portal, but they seemed to have dropped off. Houston landed Kent State transfer Delrecco Gillespie, and Texas is considered the favorite for TCU transfer David Punch. Both play the same position as Keanu.
BYU has gained momentum since those decisions. One source told me that Keanu’s mom recently moved to Utah, which is another consideration in this recruitment. BYU has wanted to get more rugged in the frontcourt and add more shooting, and Keanu can provide both of those at the four spot. Keanu would start at the four for BYU and has the ability to slide into the five in certain lineups. He is a prototypical Big 12 four — physical, can rebound, and is mobile enough to hold his own on defense. Keanu can score in variety of ways, and his 37% shooting from three in Big 12 play would give BYU the spacing KY wants while allowing BYU to be more physical in the frontcourt.
I haven’t heard BYU is the favorite, but they are certainly one of the final few schools he is considering. I wouldn’t be surprised if a decision happens in the coming days.
Big Man Search
BYU wants a NBA caliber big man. We’ll see if they ultimately get that, but BYU is looking internationally in the transfer portal to get more size. One name to watch is UConn transfer Eric. Reibe had a nice season for the national runner-up as a freshman, averaging 6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 14 minutes per game. Reibe is listed at 7-foot-1, 260 pounds and was a top 40 recruit in the 2025 class. He didn’t show it much this season, but the German is a skilled big man who can hit outside shots and pass the ball. BYU has been in contact with early and is one of several schools involved. I expect Reibe to make a big jump as a sophomore.
BYU has also been very involved in the international market. France is one of the countries BYU has been looking in for talent. John Linehan was in France and Europe recently; Linehan has connections in French basketball. BYU is looking at several French players. One of those is Senegal native Mouhamed “Momo” Faye. He is currently playing for Paris Basketball in the EuroLeague.
Listed at 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Faye is 21 years old and has been projected as a potential second round pick the last couple years. BYU is one of the teams showing interest, and NBA could be a possibility for him as well. One source told me his transcripts could be a blocker for him playing college basketball, but if that is cleared up I expect BYU to be one of the schools involved for Faye.
BYU is and will be involved with several other big man, but those are two names I’m watching.
BYU Players and Portal Future
The transfer portal officially closes April 21, and we could still see some outgoing BYU players. One source close to BYU guard Alexsej Kostic told me on Friday that he is having ongoing conversations with BYU coaches on his future. As of Friday, he has not made a decision on his future. Abdullah Ahmed is someone I’ve assumed would hit the portal or go back to G-League, but he hasn’t announced anything yet.