BYU Basketball: Nick Emery returning for 2018-19 season

BYU basketball gets a big roster boost with the news that Nick Emery will return for the 2018-19 season.

As one player leaves the BYU basketball program, another returns.

Late Friday night, Nick Emery announced on Twitter that he’ll be returning to the Cougars for the 2018-19 season:

The news of Emery’s return is even more important after the news last week that Elijah Bryant will skip his senior season to turn pro.

The loss of Bryant means losing one of their most productive players, but Emery’s return will help to make up for some of that loss. More importantly, he adds experience to a guard line that’s dangerously thin.

As a freshman in 2015-16, Emery averaged 16.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, earning Second Team All-WCC honors. He took a step back in scoring as a sophomore, only averaging 13.1 per game. Part of that likely came because of his assignment to guard the opponent’s best perimeter player nearly every game.

Emery is a part of the much-hyped “Lone Peak 3” along with TJ Haws and Eric Mika, but only one of the three suited up for BYU in 2017-18.

Mika turned pro after the 2016-17 season, then Emery withdrew from BYU shortly before the next season started.

Emery’s withdrawal came amid an NCAA investigation into whether or not he received improper benefits from a booster. He also cited personal struggles as a reason for leaving, including his divorce.

The results of the investigation haven’t been released, so there’s no guarantee that he won’t still face some sort of punishment if the NCAA finds violations. But even if that’s the case, he’ll be a welcome addition to the Cougars next season.

Next year’s roster is far from set. The biggest question remaining is whether Yoeli Childs will remain in the draft or return to BYU for next season.