BYU men’s basketball rolls out red carpet during Seneca Knight’s recruiting visit | BYU Men’s Basketball

The BYU men’s basketball program has a lot to offer for potential transfers: a successful tradition, a limited number of distractions, a spacious training facility, the ability to use a talented team of coaches to improve their game, and an up-to-date record of successful transfers, just to name a few.

Seneca Knight was drawn to all of this, but the crucial point was the Deer Creek Reservoir.

Knight is a 6-foot-7 security guard who has been stationed in San Jose State and LSU. He entered the transfer portal earlier this month and BYU put up all of the court press during his campus visit, including a 20-minute drive up Provo Canyon to Deer Creek.

Knight described his entire visit as a guest on Ben Criddle’s ESPN 960 radio show on Monday.

“I saw the water and all the activities that you can do there and that got me,” Knight said. “That closed it. I promise you it did it. We drove around and took photos. I saw people in the water and how much fun they were having. It was the perfect mood.

“Coach Nick (Robinson) told me you can rent jet skis. You can go canoeing or water rafting. These were all things that I’ve always wanted to try. I am open to new experiences. “

It will be a new experience for Knight to live and play in Provo as he announced his signing on Monday. After growing up in Lafayette, Louisiana and playing basketball in San Jose and Baton Rouge, the town boy said he was ready for the country life.

“It’s a new atmosphere,” said Knight. “It’s more than just a city atmosphere.”

Knight’s parents accompanied him on the Provo recruiting trip that included plenty of food and a tour of the campus and the surrounding area.

Knight said the visit started after breakfast at the Broadcast Building last Friday and included a golf cart tour of the campus. At the BYU bookstore, Knight said a Cougar basketball fan introduced him and welcomed him to Provo.

“It was nice to have that on my visit,” Knight said.

The group then took Knight to the Marriott Center Annex to watch the team practice and play. Knight said to sit down and talk to the whole team.

What followed was a hike to Y Mountain, from where Knight could get a glimpse of the entire valley.

“I have to look out over town,” Knight said. “That’s when I fell in love.”

After dinner with the coaching staff and Alex Barcello, Te’Jon Lucas and Caleb Lohner, the group went bowling. This activity was interrupted when someone threw a ball in a nearby alley, which hit the ceiling and set off the sprinklers.

Knight ended up in Lucas’ apartment, playing video games, and chatting with his future teammates.

The next day was breakfast with Pope, his wife, the coaching staff, and Knight’s parents.

“It was a real conversation with Coach Pope,” said Knight. “I asked him how it would be if I came here. After this conversation (his decision) it was child’s play. “

Lucas has been in Provo for three weeks after professing himself for the Cougars from the transfer portal and giving his advice.

“Caleb and Alex, you’ve been here a while,” Knight said. “Alex was a transfer and I asked him what Coach Pope did to develop his game and how well he did from Arizona. Coach Pope basically changed Alex’s entire career. It’s kind of amazing. “

Knight has only been playing organized basketball for about six years. Pope’s main discussion centered on how he could change Knight’s game.

“The primary pitch was development,” Knight said. “That was the main reason why I was on the portal. When Coach Pope gave me that pitch, I knew it was what I was looking for. I just said, ‘Let’s do it.’ “

Knight averaged 17 points per game during his sophomore season at San Jose State and earned third-team All-MWC honors. He only played four games the following season as the Spartans had to relocate to Arizona due to the pandemic. Knight hit the transfer portal and signed up to LSU in January, but eventually found the Tigers were not the right choice.

“The LSU commitment was rushed,” Knight admitted. “We haven’t done a lot of research on it. I have chosen to be closer to my home due to COVID concerns. If something happened, I would be right near my house. After things calmed down a bit, LSU just wasn’t where I wanted to be. I have my goals and it just didn’t feel like the right situation. “

Knight said he plans to arrive in Provo in the next few weeks to join his new teammates.

“It feels great,” he said. “The fans have been very supportive and show me a lot of love throughout this whole thing. It makes me excited to be out there working ten times as hard so I can put them on a show when I go out on the pitch.

“The BYU offensive is underway, I have the feeling that I can also help to facilitate and create my own shots. In defense, I’ll use my length and athleticism to my advantage. The entire list is great and everyone can shoot for it. I want to go downhill and kick it out on the people I trust that person will get the shot. I love how excited they are to play and get better. That’s probably what I’m looking forward to the most because I want to be with people who work. “

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