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BYU basketball: Christian PoPoola flips, picks Utes over Cougars

By Nathan Cunningham

Feb 25, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Dave Rose looks at his bench during a game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Cougars upset the Bulldogs by a final 79-71. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Dave Rose looks at his bench during a game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Cougars upset the Bulldogs by a final 79-71. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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One of BYU basketball’s most coveted recruits will be wearing red instead of blue next season as Christian PoPoola flipped.

Well BYU basketball, it was fun while it lasted.

Getting a top-notch athlete is something Cougar fans have been clamoring for a long, long time. Dave Rose had found one in Bishop Gorman High School (NV) guard Christian PoPoola Jr.

After verbally committing to BYU basketball in August 2016, PoPoola Jr. decided not to sign during the early college basketball signing period in mid-November.

Fast forward five or so months, and PoPoola announced he’ll be attending the University of Utah.

He made the announcement on Twitter earlier today.

Jay Drew of the Salt Lake Tribune spoke to PoPoola Jr. back in November.

PoPoola Jr. would say why he hadn’t signed.

“I don’t think I’m supposed to talk about it yet,” he told Drew. “But nothing is really going on here. I just haven’t signed yet.”

He added he was surely going to sign with BYU basketball, saying, “I am definitely a Cougar. That’s not the problem at all.” 

Obviously, the kid has the right to change his mind and go to the best possible situation – on and off the court.

But while PoPoola Jr. does have a history of waffling and wavering, it does say something about the state of BYU basketball. 

With a potentially divided locker room, the top player questioning a pro career, and coaching changes, Provo isn’t necessarily the most appealing destination right now.

PoPoola Jr. averaged 14 points and four rebounds per game in the 2016 Adidas Nations Tournament. He shot 44 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point land in his six games there.

He was also the MVP of the 2015 Nike Global Challenge. There he averaged 18.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest.

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