Previewing the 2017-18 BYU basketball backcourt

Jahshire Hardnett, Sophomore

2016-17 statistics (Chipola College): 30 games played (29 starts), 13 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.9 APG

Hardnett is transfer from Chipola College who figures to have a pretty substantial role for the Cougars this season.

It’s tough to know how the minutes will play out right now, but it seems likely that Hardnett will be the second point guard, playing with the second unit. I don’t think it’s a great idea to let TJ Haws play off the ball, so the two might not share the floor much.

Still Hardnett is a talent too big for Rose to keep on the bench.

He was a three-star recruit out of high school, and demonstrated the speed necessary to get to the rim while at Chipola College. Not to mention, he shot 56 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range.

Zac Seljaas, Sophomore

2015-16 statistics: 35 games played (1 start), 19.9 MPG, 7.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.9 APG

Oh, how we all wanted that silky smooth 3-point jump shot on the roster last season. Who knows what might have been if Mika was kicking the ball out of the paint to Seljaas.

Regardless of how nice it would’ve been a year ago, there’s no denying at all that having Seljaas back this season is huge for the Cougars.

Seljaas really came on late as a freshman in 2015-16, almost shooting BYU basketball to a win over Colorado single-handed.

I’m not sure how much of a factor rust/mission legs will play for Seljaas, but if he can be what he was his freshman season (20 minutes per night, 45 percent or so from 3-point land), then the Cougars will be fine.

Obviously, it’d be nice to see him grow into a large role this season, but it’s never easy to tell how in shape players are after returning from missions.