BYU's incoming 4-star freshman signee, Dean Rueckert, recently posted on Instagram that he underwent minor wrist surgery with the caption, "Just a minor wrist injury, but surgery went well! Small setback, but I will be back very soon! All part of God's plan!"
BYU incoming MBB freshman, Dean Rueckert posted on his IG he had minor wrist surgery. pic.twitter.com/6mafoA9mjn
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) May 22, 2026
Minor or not, Rueckert undergoing surgery for an injury to his shooting wrist is a major deal that could hold very consequential results. A player who amazed high school scouts with his athleticism and ability to score from anywhere on the floor, Rueckert is the highest-rated LDS recruit in the program's history. His freshman year may serve as a bit of a recovery period to ensure that he comes back right.
Still just a freshman, there is plenty of time for Rueckert to recover and learn under Kevin Young's system, even if his minutes are limited.
Serious wrist injuries typically take between three and six months to fully recover motor function to the degree of full-contact college basketball. Despite Rueckert's insistence that the injury was minor, there's no such thing as a 'no biggie' wrist surgery for a shooter. When Stephen Curry suffered an injury to his non-shooting hand, it still took around three months before the Warriors' star was ready to participate in full-speed action. It will be fascinating to watch if BYU plays it safe with Rueckert in his freshman season, limiting his playing time and focusing on rehab to prevent lingering issues.
It's potentially a challenging setback to face for BYU, and sends shivers down the spines of fans who watched helplessly as the AJ Dybantsa-led Cougars of last season crumbled under several season-ending injuries to key contributors, namely wing energizer Richie Saunders, and sixth-man x-factor Nate Pickens, whose preseason injury kept him off the floor all season.
At the moment, there is no clear timetable for Rueckert's return. We'll all keep fingers crossed that he can return stronger than ever and in time to play for the Cougars' season-opener in about five months.
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