BYU basketball has found itself on a launch pad, and the countdown has already begun.
Since acquiring the best basketball player in the entire 2025 graduating class in AJ Dybantsa, Kevin Young and company have been busy carefully crafting and acquiring talent to surround their new one-year centerpiece, supplemented by returning talent.
The result has been nothing short of jaw-dropping for anyone who's followed the program for at least three years. From a middle-of-the-pack squad in the West Coast Conference to a serious contender for the Big 12 crown at the end of the season, BYU basketball has been transformed under the vision of head coach Kevin Young.
This season, however, the goal is one unlike anything in recent memory, as the Cougars attempt to scale an unreachable summit for the entire history of their basketball existence: the Final Four.
The penultimate round of the NCAA tournament is an untouched promised land for these wandering Cougs, as BYU boasts one of basketball's most frustrating records: most tournament appearances without a Final Four. That tally stands at 32.
So with a team capable of reaching previously impossible heights, this program will need to take intentional steps toward greatness if they wish to compete for basketball's highest honor at the end of the year. What are those steps, you ask? Well, you're reading the article, I'm obviously going to tell you.
Lean on impact transfers
Though AJ Dybantsa is the most talented player on the roster, it's no surprise why Kevin Young called in reinforcements from around the college basketball universe to bolster his depth and talent level across the team.
Snagging Rob Wright from the absolutely gutted Baylor roster was huge, as Wright became Young's second 5-star point guard addition in two years at the helm (with the previous 5-star, Egor Demin, currently projected to be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft). Wright is now a talented and battle-tested leader for the backcourt and should pair excellently with the current core.
Dominique Diomande is an often overlooked addition who could be something of a supercharged Mihailo Boskovic from last season. Knocking down threes and complementing the offense, sure, but with improved defensive upside and inspiring athleticism to boot.
Kennard Davis should be a reliable scoring option to clear some air space for Dybantsa to work, and the additions of Tyler Mrus and Nate Pickens should add some tremendous shooting from the outside, while Pickens especially anchors a very strong perimeter defense.
This team is stacked when it comes to transfers.
Nurture the Youth
Though many experienced transfers will be returning or arriving on the scene in Provo, this team won't go anywhere without supporting the underclassmen who headline the team.
AJ Dybantsa, as exceptional as he is, has often been described as even better than the consensus number one pick in the upcoming draft, Cooper Flagg. Even Flagg had some off days with the Blue Devils in Durham, and Dybantsa will need an environment that allows him to grow and develop his talents for the NBA game.
Xavion Staton joins him as the other freshman on the team. He was AJ's teammate in high school, and likely this year's backup center behind Keba Keita. Staton's physicality could use some work, despite his impressive frame towering above the 7-foot mark. This year will be a great chance for him to develop his body and prepare himself for a heavier role.
Nurture the Youth, so when the postseason arrives, and Kevin Young digs into his bench, he'll find players he can lean on.
Knock down the 3-ball
Modern basketball revolves around the 3-point shot, and this isn't anything new to you, the reader. BYU basketball has often been viewed under the lense of white player stereotypes as a team that can beat you with their shooting, but doesn't have the athletes to compete outside that advantage.
This year, things are a bit different.
Stuffed with talent and athleticism so rich it's likely seeping into the very foundation of the program, BYU basketball is now the home of players so talented, so dynamic, and so capable of lifting off and throwing down that an interior attack will be crucial.
Let's not forget how valuable a 3-point attack remains in the modern era of the sport, however. This is why players like Tyler Mrus and Richie Saunders will be so invaluable for the BYU offense. Players hitting the 3-ball at a rate nearing 40% will be a critical weapon against teams that match -- or exceed -- the Cougars' physicality.
This is a team capable of turning heads next season.