When big man Jaxon Kohler announced his commitment to BYU basketball, the easy assumption was that his ties to the state of Utah and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were the deal-makers. After all, a Mormon boy from American Fork seems like a natural fit in Provo, right?
Well, it goes much deeper than that for Kohler, and his rationale for selecting BYU basketball over the blue-blooded programs on his list drives home the fact that there may be no fit stronger for Kohler than Brigham Young University -- for basketball reasons.
In a quote recorded by Vanquish the Foe's Robby McCombs, Kohler explained what made BYU the ideal home.
Jaxon to me on why he chose BYU: "I chose BYU for a number of reasons. I feel like what I was looking for in a basketball situation was exactly what Coach Young was looking for in a player situation. His style of play and the way I wanted to fit will showcase so much more of me…
— Robby McCombs (@rtmccombs) August 21, 2026
"I chose BYU for a number of reasons," Kohler began. "I feel like what I was looking for in a basketball situation was exactly what Coach Young was looking for in a player situation. His style of play and hte way I wanted to fit will showcase so much more of me as a player."
BYU basketball had been desperate for a starting-caliber big man all offseason, swinging and missing on dozens of candidates through the transfer portal and via overseas trade routes. Quite literally scanning the globe for any player who could hang with the size, strength, and talent of the best bigs in the loaded Big 12 Conference, Kevin Young and his recruiting team came up empty again and again.
It was frustrating to watch, and even more frustrating for experience for Young's staff. With an immensely talented and refreshingly deep roster on deck for the 2026-27 season, BYU's lineup was about as strong as any team in the program's history on paper... save for the vacancy at center.
Jakub Urbaniak, a 6'9" center from Poland, is a fascinating prospect and should provide valuable minutes for the Cougars. But he's better utilized as a depth piece. BYU still needed a reliable starter at the 5 -- and their recruiting misfortune turned into a selling point for Kohler.
"I feel like the way they had a position open, I wasn’t coming into a place where I was taking anything away from anyone. ... I know these guys and I think chemistry there will go a long way towards winning. I feel our team will be able to compete with anyone, we compliment each other, and feel we have a legitimate shot to do a lot of winning so close to home."
Fortuitous. Failure turned to success in the blink of an eye, as Jaxon Kohler is arguably a better player right now than any of the big men BYU pursued through the offseason.
He's the type of center BYU desperately needed, and could lead them to untouched ground if he retains eligibility.
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