Ever since his hiring last spring, BYU Men’s Basketball Head Coach Kevin Young has completely revitalized the program, injecting it with new life thanks to big-time recruits, transfers, and key returnees from last year’s squad. In less than a year, he has already made national headlines signing a number of BYU’s best all-time recruits.
But which ones are on their way to the NBA, and where may they fall in the NBA draft? We’ll rank BYU’s current players and recruits according to their NBA potential, and try and get a feel of where they might land on draft night.
1. A.J. Dybantsa
No surprise here. While it may not have been a shock to those in the know, Dybantsa stunned the basketball world when he committed to BYU of all schools in December on ESPN’s First Take. The senior at Utah Prep has been regarded as one of the best high school basketball talents in a long time. He’d compete with Cooper Flagg for number-one pick honors if he were in this year’s draft, but it won’t be until 2026 that he hears his name called.
But what makes him such a special talent? Dybantsa has all the athleticism in the world mixed with a smooth mid range game and the shot creation abilities only a select few possess. He also has great physical tools to go along with his athleticism.
Standing at 6-9 with a wingspan over 7 feet, the Massachusetts native has a high release that is tough to contest and the tools to get to the rim when he gets bored of splashing mid-range shots.
247Sports has broken down his skill set, and frankly, he can do it all.
As for where he’ll go in the NBA draft, the number one pick is his to lose. But anything can happen. Darryn Peterson, committed to Kansas, and Cameron Boozer, committed to Duke, also have perfect 100 ratings on 247Sports, and they’ll certainly be in the mix as well. Injuries, team needs, overseas prospects, and a variety of other factors will play a role in the draft as well. But if it were to happen today, Dybantsa would top his class.
Prediction: #1 Overall Pick 2026 Draft
2. Egor Demin
But Dybantsa wasn’t the first or only big-time recruit Kevin Young landed, as back in May, Real Madrid guard Egor Demin got the party started with his commitment to BYU. He eventually received his own 5-star rating from 247Sports, making him BYU’s highest recruit at the time. That came with a lot of hype, but through three months of play, we can say that he’s lived up to it.
While his jump shot has gone cold, he came in advertised as a passer and floor general, and he has arguably exceeded expectations in that department. He’s 24th in the country with 5.9 assists per game, and is just 2nd overall among all freshmen. You just can’t understate how good he is reading the game and distributing the ball. He’s also demonstrated plenty of scoring ability at over 11 points per game, second on the Cougars.
Demin’s upside knows no limit. His strengths as a tall, high-IQ ball handler are highly transferable to the next level, while his weaknesses as a shooter can be easily addressed. His floor is arguably as high as a Josh Giddey-type player, and his ceiling could see multiple All-Star games in his future. In a loaded draft class though, it’s tough to say where he’ll land. He could also theoretically come back to Provo for one more year, but I wouldn’t count on it.
Prediction: Late lottery pick, 2025 NBA Draft
3. Kanon Catchings
Speaking of highly transferable games, every single NBA team out there loves 6-9 players who can shoot the 3 with confidence. Catchings’ name has been in a number of different places on a number of different draft boards the past few months, including being featured in the first round, to not being drafted at all. He might have changed that narrative though, after an explosive outing against Baylor.
With numerous scouts in attendance to see Demin and Baylor freshman V.J. Edgecombe, Catchings was the star of the night scoring 23 points on perfect shooting. Before that game, his minutes were in question, as was his potential as a pro. But if he can continue to perform at even half that level, he’ll be in great shape.
In addition to shooting potential, Catchings is a tremendous athlete who gets his head near the rim to block shots or score the ball. His defense and shot selection could use some work, and consistency as a shooter will be key. If he keeps stacking up huge performances, he may be on his way to the first round. If the shooting (and playing time) remains streaky, he might have to wait longer to hear his name called. He could return for another year of college hoops, but you also couldn’t blame him for going straight to the Association.
Prediction: 2nd Round Pick, 2025 Draft OR Mid 1st Round Pick, 2026 Draft
4. Xavion Staton
Another Kevin Young recruit who is considered one of the best in BYU history, is a 4-star, 7-foot center who will make an immediate impact next year. Currently enrolled alongside Dybantsa at Utah Prep, Staton is best on the defensive end, and should be one of the best shot blockers in the Big 12 in 2026. The offensive side is more of an unknown, but he has the tools and athleticism to excel as a roller and rim runner in a similar role to Keba Keita on this year’s squad.
Unfortunately for Staton, the market for centers in the NBA isn’t what it used to be. But, the ability to protect the rim and block shots is still highly sought after, and that’s where Staton sets himself apart. It’s too early to say where exactly he’ll fall in the draft until he gets to BYU, but he could definitely have a future in the NBA
Prediction: 2nd Round Pick: 2026-2029 NBA Draft
5. Richie Saunders
Where would BYU be without Richie Saunders? The question might keep you up at night, but luckily we don’t have to worry about it. Saunders has been incredible for the Cougars this year and has single-handedly won them a number of games. He improved an already good 3-point shot into a great one this year and has also been excellent as a driver and finisher inside. Add to that his brick wall defense that he was already known for, and you have a player who should win All-Big 12 honors this year.
His game will certainly translate to the NBA as a 3 and D wing. His age, however, will make NBA teams nervous. Saunders graduated in the class of 2020, the same class as NBA stars Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley. A two-year mission and three years with the Cougars means he’ll be one of the oldest prospects in the draft. But any scouts who came to watch Demin and Catchings undoubtedly walked away impressed with Saunders. He’s slowly getting noticed and will get his shot as an undrafted player. And knowing Saunders, he probably wouldn’t want it any other way.
Prediction: Signed as an undrafted player 2025. Impresses in Summer League.
6. Mihailo Boskovic
Boskovic is a tricky one to evaluate. He’s sitting behind some more experienced players in the BYU pecking order as the rotation gets slimmed down. But it would be a mistake to sleep on the Serbian big man now. Boskovic has plenty of experience in Europe, winning MVP honors at the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2022 and having previously declared for the 2023 NBA draft before withdrawing.
Listed as a Junior because of his experience overseas, Boskovic is a bit older than other prospects at 22 years old. But his potential is still there. He can stretch the floor and play both power forward or center when needed. He’ll need to get back on the radar of NBA teams, but he possesses all the tools to do so.
Prediction: Signed as an undrafted player to Summer League 2025 or 2026
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