The Ship of Theseus. An entirely fictional boat with no anchor into the realm of reality has dominated the thought process of philosophers and internet posters thirsting for attention alike in our modern day. For those unfamiliar, the Ship of Theseus is spawned from a paradoxical thought experiment in which the very core of identity is explored and eventually defined.
Say this ship requires repair. The mast was threatening to collapse, the rudder was fractured and dysfunctional, or a leak in the base. The natural course of repair would include removing the inadequate area and replacing it with a newer, stronger, more useful material.
Removing plank of wood by plank of wood, rope by rope, the ship is disassembled and reassembled until every last piece of the boat has been replaced to create an identical, but compositionally unique vessel.
At which point did the ship stop being the original Ship of Theseus, and at which point does it become a new object altogether? Thus, the paradox. A mystery that cannot be answered or perfectly nailed down.
College basketball is reminding me more and more of this imaginary boat with every passing day. By its very nature, the rigid four-year playing career for its participants meant that at least every four years, every team in college basketball would look virtually unrecognizable compared to its previous iteration.
But with the transfer portal, COVID years, redshirts, and a million various exceptions, the sport has become something completely different in a matter of years. Now, acquiring new players is done through two avenues: the traditional high school recruiting and the wild west of the transfer portal.
Kevin Young, head coach at BYU, is fully aware of this reality. That's why he's added these X-factors to the squad to supplement the talents of the peak athletes on the floor of the Marriott Center.
Impact Transfers and Difference-Makers for BYU Basketball
1. Kennard Davis Jr.
Davis is a 6'6" combo guard that fears no man, and snatches the soul of any who dares to impede his journey to the paint. A tough shot-maker, and constant pain-in-the-neck for a defensive unit, he provides a scoring punch and a constant threat when he holds real estate on the floor.
He tallied 16 points a night as a sophomore for Southern Illinois while knocking through a fiery 37 percent of his long-range attempts. He did this as a focal point for the Southern Illinois offense. Entering his junior year in Provo, paired alongside enough talent to melt the face off the audience in a guitar duel with Dewey Finn, Kennard will have plenty of airspace to play his game and obliterate the mere mortals who stand in his path.
On top of all this, Jon Rothstein and his team of highly-trained ninjas have reported Davis to be a name to watch in this coming season. A hidden dragon among crouching tigers.
Highly placed spies in Provo believe the unsung presence in BYU’s deep assortment of newcomers is Southern Illinois transfer Kennard Davis. Has major defensive potential at 6-6. Made 64 three-point shots last season. A potential Big 12 starter for the Cougars.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 26, 2025
2. Nate Pickens
A transplant from UC Riverside, a team that faced the Cougars head-to-head last season, earned some unsolicited praise from his head coach during a pregame interview I conducted.
"But when you have good guard play like we do, [with guys like] Nate Pickens, it gives you the chance to attack and play, and [he's] playing 30 minutes a game."
A heavy load-bearer and fellow defensive stalwart, Pickens is likely to come off the bench in Provo, while providing a devestating punch for the team in every minute of play. Reminiscent of Mawot Mag, Pickens takes tremendous pride in his defensive abilities and effort, constantly hounding opposing ball handlers to the point of tears (or at least it would make me cry. Just let me score, please!!).
On top of all this, his offensive game should not go without praise, either. A strong off-the-dribble shooter capable of creating his own shot, Pickens has the burst to blow past his adversaries and elevate to finish over them. Truly majestic.
Players like these used to be the focal point of a BYU attack. Now, they're complementary pieces Kevin Young can use strategically, rather than having to lean on them entirely. BYU basketball is no longer a sleeping giant in the space of college basketball. They're already here.