It feels as though it's been nearly a week since I last wrote an article about how badly BYU basketball needs to find a starting center. That was fun while it lasted.
We're diving headfirst back into the frenzy surrounding BYU basketball's void at the starting center position, with recent intel that Luigi Suigo, the Cougars' number-one prospect for that role, has narrowed down his potential college choices to just two programs: Villanova and BYU.
Italian big man Luigi Suigo said if he withdraws from the NBA Draft it’s likely he would go to Villanova or BYU — those are the two schools on him the hardest
— Kevin Connelly (@KevinConnelly24) May 13, 2026
If it's down to those two programs, how about we just agree that whoever won the most recent matchup between them wins the favor of Suigo? What was that? BYU won the most recent matchup against Kevin Willard's team when they clashed on the court for the season-opener last fall? Wow. I don't make the rules -- actually, it sounds like I do -- but it's never too early to bow out, 'Nova.
Suigo has been the object of Cougar Nation's affection since it was announced that Kevin Young and his team were in hot pursuit early in the recruiting cycle. The 7'3" Italian is currently projected as a second-round pick in the NBA Draft, and that's exactly why he's been participating in the Combine. Measuring interest from potential suitors in the pros, the sweet-shooting big is keeping one foot on either end of the professional-collegiate borderline.
If he decides that one more year of development and increased exposure in college basketball will boost his draft stock for a reload in a year's time, Suigo is keeping the college route open. It's becoming increasingly popular for international players to make their NBA case with college basketball instead of stints in the EuroLeague or U19 programs.
For BYU, a team with a McDonald's All-American freshman, a five-star point guard touted as the best transfer of his position a month ago, and a head coach with an NBA repertoire, it'll be hard for Suigo to say no to the Cougars' offer.
Clearly, with this recent piece of intel, he's already struggling to say no to Provo.
Last season's edition of BYU basketball was hyped as the greatest team in program history. Led by likely number-one overall pick in this NBA Draft Class (Suigo has certainly become familiar by now), AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders, and Rob Wright III, Kevin Young's program had their sights set on a run to the Final Four.
Reality was not so kind. Balance issues, injury luck, and a seemingly incomplete roster construction sank last year's Cougs. BYU won't be keen to waste its time with a second 5-star freshman on campus.
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