Hello, tired traveler. Are you looking for a moment of tranquility amidst the storm of NCAA transfers? You are not alone, and you have arrived to the correct location.
Yes, the transfer portal is complete anarchy, and now that we are halfway through the April 7-21 window, let us sit down, gather our thoughts, and become organized. Despite the fact that BYU basketball has suffered more departures than arrivals, with important players such as Rob Wright and Kennard Davis leaving for new opportunities (or a larger paycheck, either-or), Kevin Young and his staff are working hard to create a contender in the always-loaded Big 12 Conference.
But don’t worry. One week is done, and one week remains, so let’s take stock and rest up at this stop. We’ll proceed whenever you’re ready.
BYU’s transfer portal Departures:
Xavion Staton (Oregon State):
The 7-footer came to BYU as AJ Dybantsa’s Team USA buddy and the top shot-blocker in the class of ’25. He leaves after an injury-plagued rookie season and will play for Oregon State in the Pac-12 next season.
Rob Wright III (undeclared):
This is the one that hurts. Wright joined the transfer market after repeatedly stating that he would return to Provo if he did not locate a professional position, but BYU declined to meet his hefty price demand. He is now embroiled in a bidding war between Kentucky and BYU, with a possible return to Provo gathering steam following an uninspired trip to Lexington.
Dominique Diomande (Pitt):
His postseason performance against West Virginia and Houston was undeniably spectacular, however Diomande’s place on BYU’s bench was significant, which comes as no surprise. He will play at Pitt next season, with apologies to our WVU friends.
KJ Perry (undeclared):
No, we will never watch Perry, the top junior college recruit in the country, compete for Kevin Young and BYU. All signs indicated that Perry was not a good cultural match, and his departure was inescapable.
Aleksej Kostic (Undeclared):
Aleksej shot approximately 38% from beyond the arc in the final stretch of the season after eventually discovering his position midway through the campaign. His departure was unplanned, but as a defensive zero with little offensive potential, his output should be simply replaced in the portal.
Abdullah Ahmed (undeclared):
It wasn’t a love relationship with Ahmed, the former G-League center whose performance was so terrible that he lost minutes to redshirt freshman and extremely raw prospect Khadim Mboup. BYU fans will not mourn his departure, and Kevin Young most likely did not give him any promises following the team’s early exit in March.
Kennard Davis Jr. (undeclared):
Davis was the team’s final remaining starter before entering the portal himself, following a tumultuous season in Provo. Davis has a long list of interested programs, including Ole Miss, Missouri, Mississippi State, and, of course, Kentucky.
BYU Transfer Portal Arrivals:
Collin Chandler (Kentucky).
Fetch him a robe, put a ring on his finger, and kill the fatted calf, since the prodigal son has finally returned to BYU basketball! The Farmington native, who was the highest-rated recruit in program history, moved to Kentucky with Mark Pope after serving as a missionary for two years. After two years in Lexington, BYU welcomes Chandler back with open arms and eyes filled with dreams of electrifying dunks, clutch three-pointers, and the return of Richie Saunders in unison.
Tyler Betsey (Syracuse):
Tyler Betsey, at 6’8″ and fresh off a sophomore season in which he shot 44% from three-point range in conference play, is precisely the sort of floor-spacing forward BYU sorely lacked a year ago.
