BYU Basketball Update: Recruiting, Scheduling News, and Coaching Vacancy

By: Mitch Harper

Today is the final day for college basketball programs to sign student-athletes that will be eligible for the 2011-2012 season.  BYU is not going to sign anyone during this spring signing period.

We did a post here last month about BYU wasn’t going to sign anyone. Thus, gearing their attention towards 2012 recruiting.

The only known player BYU had sent out an offer to was Hauns Bereton who went to Hawaii.  There was rumblings about possibly Trevin Harris a 6’6 Forward/Guard from Western Wyoming Community College who is originally out of Kingwood, Texas.  Harris wanted to go to BYU out of high school in Texas, but never received an offer, and didn’t receive an offer from BYU out of the JUCO ranks.  Harris ended up signing with the Pacific Tigers of the Big West.  Bereton and Harris will be facing off against each other in the Big West starting in 2012-2013 season when Hawaii goes over to the league.

BYU currently has an open scholarship heading into next season.  BYU has a few options.  Give the scholarship for a year to Michael Boswell a Return Missionary Forward out of Oregon.  Hold on to it for a transfer or offer an extra scholarship to one of the talented 2012 prospects BYU is going after.

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So who are the prospects that BYU is targeting for 2012?

List of 2012 recruits BYU has offered

– Jordan Chatman, Point Guard; Union, Oregon (Union H.S.)

Son of former BYU great, Jeff Chatman.  Much different personality than his dad.  Jordan is a quiet kid, but an assasin out on the basketball floor, and one of the top PG prospects out West.  Jordan’s dad, Jeff talked to us back in January about Jordan’s recruitment on a previous Cougar Center Podcast.

– Jordan Loveridge, Forward; West Jordan, UT (West Jordan H.S.)

One of the top 2012 prospects in the state of Utah, Loveridge is currently a Top 100 prospect on ESPN’s 2012 recruiting list.  Would be a terrific frontcourt player in Coach Rose’s system.

– Calaen Robinson, Guard; Chandler, AZ (Corona Del Sol H.S.)

One of the Top 10 PG recruits in the nation accoring to ESPN’s Scouts Inc.  BYU recently offered Robinson.

– Rosco Allen, Small Forward; Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman H.S.)

Allen is a wing player that is one of the top recruits in the entire country.  Former BYU Assistant Dave Rice was the connection with Allen, so it would appear unlikely that Allen has any remaining interest in BYU.

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The talent BYU is recruiting is better than ever as evidence in the type of players BYU is offering for 2012.  But there is a LDS recruit in the 2013 class that is potentially the #1 recruit in all of America and that is Jabari Parker out of Chicago.

BYU right now is a long-shot to get Parker as all the heavy-hitters are going after Parker.  BYU has it’s work cut out for them if they still want to try and land him, but they are still working on him.  As evidence, BYU Hoops has scheduled to play in the Chicago Invitational Challenge with Wisconsin, Nevada, and Bradley over Thanksgiving weekend of this upcoming season.  Will be a chance for Parker to see BYU live in person.

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Other scheduling tidbits, BYU Hoops is rumored to have a home-and-home over the next three years with Oregon lined up.  That matchup would have some intrigue to BYU fans as Oregon landed a PG that BYU was heavily recruiting last Fall in Brett Kingma.  Also, UNLV is sounding like a possibility as the two teams have formed a basketball-rivalry over the past few years and the schools are looking to continue it.  Doesn’t hurt that Dave Rice is now the head coach of the Rebs.

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Speaking of Coach Rice, who is going to replace him on BYU’s bench?  It’s looking more and more like BYU will turn to Mike Hall.  Hall is currently the Director of Basketball Operations.  Rose when in need of making a hire on his staff in years past has always promoted the Director of Basketball Operations (Walter Roese, John Wardenburg).  Hall in his current position as DOBO, can not recruit.  Makes sense to get him on the recruiting trail, and it’s always an important element at BYU to have a diverse bench.

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One more basketball related note.  Former BYU Basketball star, Marty Haws is now on Twitter.  He’s a fan of Cougar Center.  His son, Tyler is currently on a mission and will be back for the 2012-2013 season.  Follow Marty @martyhaws1123

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