It’s the off-season for BYU, which means that Mark Pope and his staff will be active on the transfer portal. BYU doesn’t have a lot of scholarship space right now, but expect some people to drop out of the program. The scholarship limit is 13 and BYU has blocked 14 as of now. Nate Hansen has been signed by the previous employees and is one of 14 so he wouldn’t be a surprising guy if he went elsewhere. I can see about 2-3 other BYU people getting off which would open up spaces for transfers. I don’t think it is appropriate for me to list names right now, but we’ll see guys entering the portal very soon. Jesse Wade is on the portal but he’s been a stroll this season.
Guards, especially point guards, are in the foreground at BYU. I expect BYU to sign at least two transfers this cycle, but that could fluctuate slightly over the next few weeks. Below is the list of people BYU is following – I’ve spoken to people on the BYU program, recruits, and people associated with recruits to get the most accurate list.
Level one
Mike Saunders Jr; Point Guard, Cincinnati
After Brandon Averette has moved on and Alex Barcello’s status is still in the air, BYU is looking for a point guard who will step in and start immediately. Number 1 on this list is Cincinnati point guard Mike Saunders Jr. Saunders went to Wasatch Academy as a junior and senior, so he was teammate of Caleb Lohner and future cougars Fousseyni Traore and Richie Saunders.
Mark Pope met with Saunders in a virtual Zoom meeting on Monday morning.
BYU’s Mark Pope has just completed a virtual meeting with Mike Saunders Jr., the transferring company from Cincinnati, he told @Stockrisers. Remember, he attended the famous Wasatch Academy before signing up for the Bearcats.
– Jake (@jakeweingarten) March 29, 2021
A source within the program said the meeting went well and that Saunders was looking for a completely different situation than in Cincinnati. So far, six Bearcats players have entered the portal due to a gap between players and coaches. BYU is pushing the mantra “Best Locker Room in America” with Saunders hard and it’s a response from him.
If you’re into social media indicators, Saunders has posted a few on his Instagram:
Mike Saunders Jr. – Cincinnati transfer and former Wasatch teammate from Lohner – comments on Caleb’s IG post with eye emojis and a royal blue heart. BYU is chasing Saunders as it could be the PG of the future. pic.twitter.com/tOuoxKc1pB
– Robby McCombs (@rtmccombs) March 25, 2021
On the pitch, Saunders would bring a dynamic presence to the point guard position. As a true newbie last season, it averaged 3.5 ppg and 1.4 apg. He started 10 games at the end of the season and got more playing time there. He had a season high of 19 points against Memphis late in the season, where he showed his lightning-fast first move. Saunders is 6 feet tall, but he would be the fastest player on BYU’s roster and a cornerstone for next season’s team.
BYU’s Chances: BYU is a favorite and I can definitely see him come to Provo. He’s from Indianapolis, so check out other schools in the Midwest to get involved.
Cameron Shelton; Point Guard, Northern Arizona
No one has talked about Shelton, but BYU is a very good place for dynamic point guard. The 6-foot-2 Junior Guard was the first All-Big Sky team as he averaged 19.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 at 42% shooting and 35% from depth Scored steals. As you can see from the numbers, Shelton did everything for the loggers. It was 5th nationwide in the usage rate and 37th nationally in the rating.
At BYU, he would not have the same pressure on himself and would be much more efficient. A source close to the program told me that BYU, along with USC, Missouri, and Fresno State, is in the top 5 for Shelton.
BYU’s odds: I think BYU has a better shot on Saunders, but for Shelton, they’re absolutely in the mix. With the year off, Shelton would have two seasons if he chose that route. If the option were given, BYU would take Saunders and Shelton.
Tannery groves; Power Forward, Eastern Washington
The Big Sky Player of the Year made national appearances in the NCAA tournament when he scored 35 points in the Eagles’ first round against Kansas. Groves is a 6-foot-9 forward who averaged 17.2 points and 8 rebounds this season. He has good post movements and reaches the 3-point line.
His younger brother and teammate Jacob is also on the transfer portal. Jacob is a 6-foot-7 forward who averaged 9 points per game and had 23 points against Kansas. Both players could be a package deal and BYU would take Jacob if it meant landing Tanner.
BYU’s Chances: BYU first contacted Tanner on Sunday, but they have a long list of applicants. Nearby Washington State is harshly persecuting the brothers, as are other high majors. Groves is very religious and good friends with BYU punter Ryan Rehkow, so BYU has a few things to offer. At this point, I’d say BYU’s chances are slim, but things could change in the next week as BYU makes more contact with Tanner.
See other guys
Rudi Williams; Guard, Kansas State
BYU has been in contact with Williams and Williams really likes BYU. However, at this point, Williams is more of a backup option as BYU is chasing other guards. Williams is a 6-foot-3 combo guard who averaged just under 5 ppg as a junior after getting out of the JUCO ranks. I have a feeling BYU could get Williams if they want him, but they won’t add him unless other high-level guards don’t work for the next couple of months.
Bayron Matos; Forward, New Mexico
BYU hit the athletic 6-foot-9 forward a few weeks ago, but their pursuit has subsided and Matos is no longer a priority for employees.
Timmy Allen; Forward, Utah
I know BYU fans released his name after he announced his transfer, but that doesn’t happen. BYU is not following up and Allen would probably not be interested. He’ll have a lot of options.
Tre Williams; Guard, Minnesota
The second guard is another ex-Wasatch product. Like Mike Saunders, Williams was a teammate of Caleb Lohner and future cougars Fousseyni Traore and Richie Saunders. I think BYU’s chances are pretty slim here, but Williams is a talented guard – he averaged just under 6 for the Gophers.
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