Utah Prep has been a hotbed for some of the nation's best prospects looking to showcase their talents. Take, for example, 4-star Team USA gold medalists Xavion Staton and JJ Mandaquit, both currently in the transfer portal. You'll need to look no further than AJ Dybantsa, though, this year's BYU basketball superstar, consensus first-team All-American, and potential number-one selection in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Anthony Felesi is the next in a line of fascinating prospects to come out of Utah Prep Academy in Hurricane, Southern Utah, who had received strong interest from BYU basketball a year ago before eventually committing to Pittsburgh in the ACC.
But Felesi is back on the market, and Kevin Young and his staff will quickly jump at the chance to persuade him to give Provo a second look.
NEWS: Anthony Felesi, a top-40 recruit in the class of 2026, has decommitted from Pitt, his agent Daniel Moldovan told DraftExpress.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 7, 2026
The 6'5 Samoan wing is arguably the best defender in his high school class and will be highly sought after as a free agent. pic.twitter.com/RFxp5BzE90
Felesi took a visit to BYU during his initial recruiting period, alongside stops at San Diego State, USC, and, of course, Pitt. A 6'5" guard who hangs his hat on his aggressive play style, excellent athleticism, and uses his absurd length (nearly a 7-foot wingspan) to defend like a maniac -- a trait that last season's Cougars fatally lacked.
Still, Felesi's skill set could use a bit more refinement -- he's well below the mark of a reliable 3-point shooter, though he hits his free throws at a passable clip -- and would likely need a few years of collegiate development before he's ready to take a swing at the NBA Draft.
Enter: Kevin Young and his NBA Academy based out of Provo, Utah. That's the simple pitch for Felesi, who's seen what a BYU education can do for the NBA prospects of an AJ Dybantsa, who will likely become the number-one pick this summer, or Egor Demin, who leapt up to the 8th overall pick after many projected he could slip out of the lottery entirely.
Felesi's second recruiting cycle will be one to watch for BYU fans as Kevin Young atones for the wrongs of a season ago, prioritizing depth and defensive upside where last year's team lacked.