BYU basketball: Three most important Cougars for 2017-18

Yoeli Childs

To me, it all comes down to Childs. The Cougars have a number of guards, but their depth at power forward/center is questionable.

There are players returning from missions and others who don’t have a ton of experience.

That means there will be a ton of pressure on Childs. However, he’s an incredible athlete and I think he’s going to be a revelation for BYU basketball.

Last season, for all intents and purposes, he averaged a double-double playing alongside Eric Mika. Now Mika is gone, meaning the paint belongs solely to Childs.

He’s a solid defender that I believe will get better and we already know he’s a great rebounder. The next step for him will be improving his offense. If he could add a mid-range jumper to his arsenal, it’s game over.

But even if he doesn’t, he’s athletic enough to make his bones around the basket. I think Childs will average a double-double this season, with around 14 points and 12 rebounds this season.