PROVO — BYU basketball coach Mark Pope announced Wednesday that Utah Valley University transfers Richard Harward and Wyatt Lowell, as well as American Fork High’s Trey Stewart, a former UVU recruit, have signed financial aid agreements to play for the Cougars.
While Harward and Lowell will be sidelined this upcoming season due to NCAA transfer rules, Stewart will join the program after he serves a two-year mission to England for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
All I have to say about Trey Stewart is ‘Dunk you very much!’ – BYU coach Mark Pope
A 6-foot-11 center, Lowell averaged 10.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and he shot 67.9 percent from the field in 18 games last season for the Wolverines. Harward has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
“Richard Harward has some of the best ‘insides’ in college basketball,” Pope said in a statement. “He welcomes challenges and adversity and has an incredible desire to rise above it. He has developed into a top-level rim protector and rebounder and brings an enormous physicality to the game. And with an efficiency of 1.172 points per possession, he turned out to be one of the most forceful and skilled offensive post players and passers in the country under the guidance of (assistant coach) Chris Burgess.”
Harward prepped at Orem High, averaging 13.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks as a senior in 2014-15 before serving a mission in Australia. Harward is the younger brother of Ian Harward, who played at BYU and BYU-Hawaii.
The 6-10 Lowell earned WAC freshman of the year honors in 2018-19. He averaged 4.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game and he shot 37.6 percent from 3-point territory.
“I’m not sure if Wyatt Lowell is going to be a two guard, a wing or a power forward,” Pope said. “What I do know is he’s a 6-10 baller with a silky stroke and a high basketball IQ who loves this game and has dreams of accomplishing great things. After shooting nearly 40 percent from the 3-point line and garnering WAC freshman of the year honors, he has laid the foundation for a highly decorated career that will translate into a bunch of wins for our program.”
At Williams Field High School in Gilbert, Arizona, Lowell averaged 24.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 blocks while shooting 40.0 percent from 3-point range as a senior. Lowell served a mission in Minnesota before enrolling at UVU.
Stewart, a 6-3 guard, signed with UVU last November but was released from his national letter of intent during the spring. At American Fork High, Stewart was named second-team All-State by the Deseret News and USA Today. He averaged 14.8 points and 3.7 assists and helped the Cavemen to the 6A state championship.
“All I have to say about Trey Stewart is ‘Dunk you very much!’ This young man has a beautiful way of introducing himself to the competition,” Pope said. “Certainly, current and past great dunkers like Gavin Baxter, Yoeli Childs, Brandon Davies, Mike Hall and Travis Hansen have left their mark on the rims in the Marriott Center. But Trey Stewart might take it to another level. Combine that with an innocent, joyful approach to this game, his ability to make shots and guard anybody and everybody on the floor simultaneously, this kid is going to be a star when he rolls back into town after his mission.”
Stewart’s father, Ray, serves as an assistant coach for the BYU women’s basketball team.