BYU basketball has their full roster and scholarship players now that Mboup, from Africa, joined the Cougars. They also have a 2024 season that is building some real anticipation. The Cougars surprised people last year and were in the the top 25 for most of the year. A lot of people seem to think that this year’s team could be even better. The jury is still out on that one, but I expect about the same season as last year.
A new coach and players brings new chemistry that you have to build and create. I expect some growing pains. But if this team can figure it out and Young is a good coach, BYU should be good. If BYU can stay in the top 25 for most of the year and get to the sweet 16, that is a success with this group of high level recruits.
2025 Class Could Be Amazing
Kevin Young had to finish the roster for 2024 and this year as a new first year coach at BYU. That was priority one. But Coach Young is now looking at 2025 and with good reason. There are some high caliber players. We all (hopefully) know AJ Dybantsa. I have talked about him for the past two weeks.
But do you also know Xavion Staton? He is a 7’1 Center and a top 25 prospect in the 2025 class. BYU offered him a scholarship about a week ago and have been scouting him for months. He just cut his schools down to 6 yesterday and BYU is one of them! The other 5 schools are Arizona, USC, UNLV, Stanford, and Michigan.
Who is Xavion Staton?
Of course, Dybantsa is the #1 priority right now. But Staton is right after him. He is a big, long, athletic center and 4 star recruit. He is thought to be the best rim protector of the 2025 class. Some scouts have compared him to Deandre Jordan in the NBA since Staton is able to rim run, play the pick and roll, and protect the rim. This is the exact type of guy that Young wants for his team and offense.
Robby McCombs says in his article from Vanquish the Foe that going to a school close to home is something Staton will heavily consider. As you can see from his top 6 schools, most of them are close to home, except for Michigan. BYU isnt right next to Vegas, but a close 5 and a half hour drive which isnt too bad.
Up next for Staton and Coach Young will be to get Staton on an official visit, which is supposed to happen. In terms of playing time, Fouss is a senior and Keita will be with the team for another year after 2024 as he is a junior. Staton should get immediate playing time either as a starter of backup to Keita.
BYU Offers Chamberlain Burgess
BYU continues to recruit the 2025 class as they now have reached out to Chamberlain Burgess and offered him a scholarship. Chamberlain is a 6’9 big from Orem High School. Burgess can play either the 4 or 5 and after his most recent tournament performance earned offers from Hawaii and Utah St. He has good shot blocking ability is more of a stretch big man who can shoot and pass effectively. His parents both played basketball at BYU and his uncle, Chris Burgess, is the current assistant coach.
What’s Next for this Class?
BYU has also offered and been recruiting, for months now, JJ Mandaquit. He is another 2025 class player who is playing at Utah Prep in Hurricane alongside AJ Dybantsa. Mandaquit is a 4 star point guard and the #51 ranked recruit in the 2025 class. Mandaquit hasnt said anything about his recruitment and when he is going to cut his list so we will just have to wait and see on him. But BYU is hoping that they can grab both Mandaquit and Dybantsa from Utah Prep and they have a really good shot at both.
The last player I wanted to point out was Isiah Harwell. He is playing his senior year at Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah. Harwell is a 5 star recruit and #10 ranked recruit for the class of 2025. He isnt too hot on BYU since they offered him and there has been more noise for Houston, Texas, and Gonzaga, but BYU has been recruiting and scouting him for quite some time now.
Here is a complete list of all the offers that BYU has sent out for the class of 2025 so far and who they are interested in. Notice anything about all of these recruits? Aside from Chamberlain Burgess, who has connections to BYU, all of the recruits are 4 or 5 stars. If 2024 and early 2025 consensus so far with Dybantsa and Staton has shown us anything, its that BYU does have a shot with these talented players. Before 2024, BYU maybe offered 2 or 3 4 or 5 star recruits. The times are changing here at BYU basketball!
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