Jaxon Kohler, the Michigan State transfer forward, is officially a BYU Cougar, making it known on Thursday. This commitment seals a long-rumored move and means Kohler is heading back to his home state of Utah, a decision that makes perfect sense after he couldn’t return to Michigan State due to their full roster. On3’s Joe Tipton broke the news, confirming BYU was the frontrunner all along, despite a Wednesday Zoom meeting Kohler had with Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats’ coaching staff.
The Kentucky Wildcats Didn’t Stand a Chance (Again)
This isn’t the first time Mark Pope has tried to bring Kohler into the fold. Pope, who previously coached at BYU, initially recruited Kohler out of high school, only for Michigan State to ultimately win out. Pope tried again this offseason to land the 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward, but was unsuccessful in his pursuit for a second time. Kentucky fans probably don’t need to stress too much about facing Kohler and BYU; the most likely scenario for these two teams to clash would be deep into the NCAA Tournament. Kohler, who spent all four years of his collegiate career with the Spartans, was recently granted a fifth season of eligibility through the Colorado lawsuit against the NCAA, making him an immediate impact player. He’s coming off a season where he averaged 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, shooting 38.9% from 3-point range. And don’t forget his monster performance against Kentucky in the State Farm Champions Classic: 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting (2-for-2 from deep!), five boards, two assists, and a block, all in Michigan State’s dominant 83-66 victory over the Wildcats. That’s the kind of talent the Cougars are getting.
BYU’s Roster Gets a Serious Boost (But Watch the Bench)
Bringing Kohler home to Utah is a massive win for BYU. The Cougars are expected to roll out another strong starting five, with Kohler undoubtedly playing a key role. Their projected roster includes returning star point guard Rob Wright III, Kentucky transfer guard Collin Chandler, and 5-star forward Brunch Branch III. While the starting lineup looks stacked, the article points out a potential issue: BYU could lack the much-needed bench depth they had last season. That’s something the coaching staff will need to figure out as the season progresses. Meanwhile, Kentucky will continue its search to fill its final roster spot. Many believe the Wildcats could land Missouri forward Mark Mitchell if he’s granted eligibility, which would be a decent consolation prize after missing out on Kohler.
With Kohler now officially a Cougar, BYU fans have a lot to be excited about, especially seeing him return to his home state. It’ll be interesting to watch how that projected starting five gels and if the bench depth concerns play out. For Kentucky, the waiting game for Mark Mitchell continues, as they try to finalize their roster before things really kick off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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