Is it way too early to begin projecting the 2026-27 college basketball season? For Kevin Young and BYU basketball? Yeah, duh!
The Cougars remain without a starting center, now a month removed from the official close of the college basketball season and opening of recruiting season. I've talked about this to the point of nausea. It's all you hear about anymore whenever a BYU basketball recruiting update is shared, regardless of the source.
Yeah, we get it: BYU doesn't have a starting center. The season is still like 7 months away, so why flip the panic switch so early into the process?
Well, with some ridiculously early college hoops projections from Torvik, the Cougars are barely scratching the top-40 even with Rob Wright III, Collin Chandler, and Bruce Branch III leading the way in the absence of Richie Saunders and (the big one) AJ Dybantsa. The gaping hole in the Cougars' lineup shouldn't last all summer, but standing at 38th in the country does not bode well for BYU basketball at all.
For no reason at all we have *INSANELY Early* CBB projections on Torvik - here is the top 40
— Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) May 2, 2026
Shout out to @totally_t_bomb - sleeping in May is overrated, we never rest pic.twitter.com/JNwZ4MXmO4
Some notable teams currently ahead of the Cougars are Missouri -- who just added BYU transfer Kennard Davis Jr. for better or for worse -- UCF, and Iowa State. BYU stands just ahead of Auburn and Oklahoma, two programs that were on the bubble in last year's NCAA Tournament after pitiful seasons in the SEC (how they were even in the conversation is beyond me).
Message received, oh basketball powers that be: BYU needs to fill out the roster. They're working on it.
BYU's top starting center targets (May 6, 2026)
Luigi Suigo, 7'3", Italy: Suigo is a big question mark, both as a potential NBA draftee this summer and as a hot commodity on the recruiting market should he withdraw for a year of college basketball.
Momo Faye, 6'10", Senegal: Currently playing pro ball in Paris, Faye is a powerful, enforcer big man capable of laying down the law on defense, while being the perfect pick-and-roll partner for Rob Wright III on the offensive end.
Michael Ruzic, 7'0", Croatia: While many debate whether he's a true center or just a power forward who stands 7'0", Ruzic is a three-point sniper but has the physicality to play center for the Cougars if needed. It's worth noting, however, that Ruzic is likely better served as a backup center if either of the two names above him signs with Kevin Young.
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