BYU Basketball: How will the Cougars handle a scholarship crunch?

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 05: Brigham Young Cougars mascot Cosmo the Cougar walks on the court during the team’s semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament against the Saint Mary’s Gaels at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cougars won 85-72. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

The Sophomores

The soon-to-be sophomores make up the smallest list. Only two players will likely be sophomores in 2018-19: Rylan Bergerson and Ryan Andrus. Just like Braden Shaw, this is with the expectation that Andrus will be granted a medical redshirt.

If either of these players leave, it will be either a transfer to another school with the purpose of a bigger role, or leaving basketball altogether.

If Andrus can’t get back to full health, that latter reason might apply to him, but otherwise, don’t expect to see either player leave BYU.

The Freshmen

The Cougars should have three freshmen on the roster next year, all on scholarship: Kolby Lee, Connor Harding, and Gavin Baxter.

Lee returned home from his mission early, joining the team halfway through the season. He’ll have used up his redshirt year as a result.

Both Harding and Baxter are due back from their missions during the summer, hopefully in time to get basketball ready by the start of the season. Either way, they’ll take up two of the scholarships.

It’s interesting to consider, though, that Lee wasn’t expected to be back from his mission until 2019-20. Would he be willing to take a walk-on year in 2018-19 if needed?

That’s one option that may have to be considered. Because if no one transfers and no one goes pro, there’s too may scholarship players and not enough scholarships.

Something’s gotta give.

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