This article was first published in the Cougar Insiders newsletter Tuesday (before it was reported that Robert Wright III plans to enter the transfer portal). Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each week.
Two big events transpired the past few days with Kalani Sitake finishing spring football with the alumni game at LaVell Edwards Stadium and the NCAA’s transfer portal opening with more than 1,000 college basketball players putting themselves out there for the pickings.
At BYU, 7-foot freshman center Xavier Staton, entered his name in the transfer portal. In the meantime, there is a lot of anticipation over what players BYU basketball coach Kevin Young and his staff will pursue.
Watching the Final Four, Elite Eight and Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, it is obvious BYU needs a big, strong, tall, physical player at center, and it would be a huge plus if he could score in addition to protect the rim. There are a lot of those body types in the portal including these:
Olivier Rioux, 7-foot-9 center (Florida) — The tallest player in college basketball history announced his intention to enter the portal. He has limited playing time but massive intrigue due to his size.
Anton Bonke, 7-2 center (Charlotte) — Graduate transfer and one of the top-ranked big men available; expected to draw significant Power conference interest. He averaged 10+ points and 8+ rebounds in recent play.
Chol Machot, 7-0 center (College of Charleston) — CAA Defensive Player of the Year; strong interior anchor with solid blocking numbers (around 2.5 bpg). He is highly regarded as a top big in the portal.
Paul Mbiya, 7-0 center/forward (Kansas) — Freshman who saw limited action but had some flashes; recently reported as entering the portal amid Kansas frontcourt changes.
Ben Defty, 7-0 forward/center (Boston University) — All-Patriot League second team and All-Defensive selection; productive scorer (15+ ppg) and rebounder who entered the portal earlier.
If you go to 6-11-type centers, here are a few names to watch to see if BYU makes a move:
Somto Cyril, 6-11 center (Georgia) — Sophomore who earned All-SEC Defensive Team honors. Averaged 9.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, and 2.2 bpg on elite 75.9% field goal shooting. Highly efficient interior scorer and rim protector with multiple years of eligibility remaining; frequently ranked among the top bigs available.
Sananda Fru, 6-11 center/forward (Louisville) — German big man who started most games and led Louisville in FG% (75.3%), rebounds (6.1 rpg), and blocks. Averaged 9.2 ppg and was a strong offensive rebounder; expected to draw significant Power conference interest for his size and efficiency.
Flory Bidunga, 6-10/6-11″ range C (Kansas) — Elite sophomore (often listed near 6-11 in context), who averaged 13.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, and 2.6 bpg. Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Big 12; testing NBA draft waters but in the portal and considered one of the absolute top available big men overall.
J.P. Estrella, 6-11 power forward (Tennessee) — Athletic forward with good length (7-1 wingspan mentioned); productive scorer/rebounder in prior stints and viewed as a coveted frontcourt piece for his size and mobility.
Bryson Tiller, 6-11 power forward/forward (Kansas) — Highly touted five-star freshman who started 31 games and averaged 7.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg. Athletic big with major upside; his portal entry is drawing attention due to pedigree and physical tools.
Drew Fielder, 6-11 center (Boise State) — All-Mountain West second team performer who averaged 14.7 ppg and 5.7 rpg while shooting efficiently (including from 3). Veteran presence with scoring versatility inside and out.
This is just throwing out some names. It is reported that Bidunga is a hard lean to go from Kansas to Texas Tech.
BYU has the resources to approach and talk to any of these prospects. It is a matter of fit and interest. I think Kevin Young and his staff will also look for a point guard in case Robert Wright III puts his name in for the NBA draft. I don’t see him entering the portal to seek another team.
Question of the week
Now that BYU’s spring football practice is over, what newcomer stood out in terms of performance or presence, and why?
Jay Drew: Because BYU didn’t have a spring game or public scrimmage and also because media viewing portions of spring practices were limited and mostly far away from the actual practicing, it is difficult to say which newcomer made the biggest impact in spring camp.
So we will have to take the coaches’ word for it — and what teammates said.
On defense, everybody was clearly impressed with Cal transfer linebacker Cade Uluave. Defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga even said that Uluave was the second-fastest player on the team, which is quite amazing for a linebacker. Or maybe the guys who are supposed to be the speedsters — receivers and cornerbacks — aren’t that fast. We will see.
Seriously, Uluave was also impressive in his interviews on Friday when reporters were able to sit down with guys for one-on-one conversations.
On offense, I’m going to say that USC transfer tight end Walker Lyons was the biggest head-turner. Lyons already looks and talks the part of a bona fide NFL tight end. Watching him play this season, and maybe next season when his quarterback brother Ryder returns from a mission, is going to be fun.
Tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride told me about midway through camp that he knew Lyons was going to be a good pass-catcher, but he also noted that Lyons is an above-average blocker. With Lyons and Oregon transfer Roger Saleapaga now in Provo, BYU should have the best tight end tandem in the Big 12, if not the country.
Dick Harmon: If you are talking impact, there are many. One of the most impressive interviews I had during spring was with Cade Uluave, the linebacker transfer from Cal. He was among the leaders in the ACC in tackles and easily one of the best defensive players in that league. He is intelligent, motivated, energetic and fast. If you were to try and pick a replacement for Jack Kelly, it would be Uluave. He’s shorter than Kelly but faster, in fact he is impressively explosive. He is going to make a lot of plays this coming season.
I knew Cade’s grandfather in Tonga, Peter Uluave; however, Cade has never been to Tonga, the birthplace of head coach Kalani Sitake and defensive line coach Sione Po’uha. What Cade has inherited from his Tongan roots is an intensity and competitive spirit, and like his grandfather Peter, he is a natural leader. BYU just got another Keanu Tanuvasa. He’s got a lot of fight in him just waiting to break loose. He loves physical play and making hits, and he has the speed to get after quarterbacks. And yes, he is very aware that Utah has very good running QBs.
I agree with Jay that these two Power Four tight end transfers will make a huge impact on this team. Walker Lyons (USC) and Roger Saleapaga (Oregon) are simply studs. They will change how BYU’s offense is defended because they will make a lot of plays. They’ll also make it easier for Bear Bachmeier in both protection, run blocking and those tight end routes that made BYU tight ends so effective in past years.
This duo will bring back memories of Itula Mili and Chad Lewis, as well as the Andrew George and Dennis Pitta duo. I think they can be just as effective, kind of like having two Carsen Ryans.
Cougar tales
If you thought freshman sensation Jane Hedengren’s indoor track season was remarkable with NCAA titles in the 5,000- and 3,000-meters, she’s just getting started with the outdoor season and set an NCAA and school record in her first event. Read about this sensational athlete from Provo’s Timpview High here.
Another freshman making headlines is golfer Kihei Akina, who played in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open and then won a college tournament within a week. Here is Randy Dodson’s Fairways Magazine profile of Akina.
BYU’s women’s basketball team lost to Columbia in the WBIT, but there was lots of progress from first-year coach Lee Cummard.
With spring football finished, here are a few of our stories that cover issues and personalities:
- Why Oregon tight end transferred to BYU (Jay Drew)
- BYU sees Texas Tech as team to beat (Dave McCaan)
- Tweaks, schemes highlight defense (Dick Harmon)
- Kalani Sitake: ‘We’ll be ready to roll’ (Jay Drew)
- O-line has eyes on being the best (Jay Drew)
- What special teams will look like under Justin Ena (Jay Drew)
From the archives
From the X-verse
- Delaney Gibb Sunday play video goes viral (@Garrett-Foxnews)
- Uluave explains why BYU (@byusportsnation)
- Ranking BYU transfer players (@billgetzfroggy)
Extra points
- Tracking BYU basketball roster (KSLsports)
- BYU has its first portal exit (Deseret News)
- Mitchell becomes offensive star (Provo Daily Herald)
Fanalysts
Comments from Deseret News readers:
Hill’s scheme is just a scheme (and it’s Whitt’s scheme, really). And changing that some, or even a lot, isn’t likely an issue.
What Hill did really well was get everyone on the same page on the D. Then the second thing he did was call the right play at the right time, making excellent adjustments during the game.
Hill was a master at that.
So, changing the scheme some, or a lot, shouldn’t scare anyone. There are lots of them that work. Bronco’s scheme, as an example, seemed to work well at BYU in the past.
I think the question for a first-time DC, is can they teach the new scheme well enough to get everyone on the same page, and can he call the right plays, making critical adjustments along the way?
I am not saying he can’t. I’m just saying Hill was a master at that. And we have yet to see how the new DC will be.
— ArizonaUte
Texas Tech is a good program right now. They also got waxed by Oregon in the playoffs, which in turn got waxed by Indiana. The Big 12 has a long way to go. If any Big 12 team wants to look up to any standard, they need to look at the Big 10.
— JMac77
Up next
- April 9 | noon | women’s tennis | Arizona State
- April 9 | 12:30 p.m.| track and field | Brian Clay Multis
- April 9 | 4 p.m. | women’s tennis | Arizona State
- April 9 | 5:30 p.m. | softball | Houston
- April 10 | 11 a.m. | track and field | Weber State Spring Open
- April 10 |5:30 p.m. | baseball | @ Houston
- April 10| 7 p.m. | volleyball | USC
- April 11 | 10 a.m. | track and field | @ Utah Spring Classic
- April 11| 11 a.m. | women’s tennis | Arizona
- April 11 | noon | baseball | Houston
- April 11 | noon | softball | Houston
- April 11 8 p.m. | volleyball | USC