The BYU Cougars experienced the turbulence of coaching changes this offseason when prestigious Kentucky enticed their leader away from Provo. However, their new coach appears to be performing well. Mark Pope, who guided the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament last season, departed in April to return to his alma mater, leaving the program unexpectedly without a coach this spring.
This sequence began when SMU dismissed their coach Rob Lanier, triggering a chain reaction. Andy Enfield from USC moved to Dallas, prompting Eric Musselman to leave Arkansas for the West Coast, and ultimately leading to John Calipari filling the vacancy at Arkansas. Kentucky initially pursued several high-profile candidates before ultimately selecting Pope, despite his team’s early exit from the postseason.
BYU hired Kevin Young as Pope’s replacement, a decision that has quickly paid off on the recruiting front. While Pope managed to recruit some talent to Kentucky, Young effectively retained most of BYU’s roster and is now expanding it further. His recent accomplishments include securing commitments from international combo guard Egor Demin, a potential top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and another promising one-and-done prospect.
Kanon Catchings, originally committed to Purdue, is now headed to BYU. His arrival is expected to bolster the Cougars’ lineup with his scoring versatility and rebounding skills, qualities that have NBA scouts eager to watch him play. Catchings comes from a prominent basketball family background: his mother Tauja was a standout at Illinois, his aunt Tamika excelled in the WNBA, and his grandfather Harvey played in the NBA. Now, he aims to continue this legacy.
Joining BYU, Catchings becomes part of a highly-regarded recruiting class featuring six basketball prospects, each earning at least a four-star rating from one of the major recruiting services. These achievements are impressive considering his new coach has been in the role for just two months!
