BYU Basketball: Three things to watch in the Westminster exhibition
By Shaun Gordon
2 – Introduction to Kolby Lee
Cougar fans have seen two of the three 4-Star freshman so far, as both Gavin Baxter and Connor Harding have seen significant time in the Cougar Tipoff and the first exhibition game.
However, big man Kolby Lee has been sidelined with a foot injury for most of fall camp, missing the two chances Cougar fans have had to see the new guys play.
But he’s been practicing this week, and head coach Dave Rose expects him to play against Westminster.
It will be interesting to see how he performs in his first collegiate game, and how he performs will determine whether he starts the season with a major role in the rotation.
The other two freshman have been interesting case studies early on. Baxter has displayed his big-play athleticism, but he’s been inconsistent and mistake-prone. Harding has been solid so far, letting the game come to him and avoiding the mistakes that come from trying to do too much.
If Lee looks good, he’ll likely steal minutes from Baxter. The Cougar frontcourt is dangerously thin with the losses of Ryan Andrus, Braiden Shaw, and Payton Dastrup. Right now Yoeli Childs, Luke Worthington, and Dalton Nixon are the only three bigs guaranteed to get minutes, and Baxter got the rest of the frontcourt minutes against Saint Martin’s.
Those minutes can go to Lee if he proves he’s ready. That would be a bonus for Baxter as well, whose game is more suited for a wing spot in the long run.