Kevin Young has been upfront about the journey his team is embarking on since stepping into the role as BYU’s 16th men’s basketball coach back in April 2024. While fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming season, Young has managed to keep his cards close to his chest about the specific makeup of his starting five or even the overall rotation. And with the 2024-25 Cougars’ exhibition opener against Colorado Christian on October 30 and the season opener against Central Arkansas on November 5 looming, that veil of mystery remains firmly in place.
When asked recently about his potential starting five, Young’s response was as straightforward as it was enigmatic: “Not that close,” he said during a Tuesday press event held on the second floor of the Marriott Center Annex. The question on everyone’s mind—who will be the starters—is one Young isn’t rushing to answer. Down on the first floor, as his team practiced, the coach emphasized how fluid the current situation remains.
In fact, Young offered no concrete clues about which players have the edge in earning significant playing time. “Every guy we have out there could contribute, to be honest with you,” he said, keeping fans and analysts alike in suspense.
For Young, this season marks his first at the helm in BYU’s second run through the Big 12 Conference. The excitement is palpable. The conference opener is set for December 31 at home against Arizona State, a date that can’t come soon enough for BYU’s dedicated fanbase. The Cougars are about to navigate one of the most competitive basketball conferences in the nation, and Young has acknowledged that while his rotation for nonconference play will likely extend beyond the traditional seven or eight players, it’s still too early to pinpoint exactly who will rise to the occasion.
“I don’t know how far that [rotation number] reaches,” he candidly admitted. “We are still learning about this group a lot. We are trying to strike a balance of teaching and drilling concepts, but we also need to see who is good with who. I don’t think we are even close to making any decisions at the moment as it relates to who is in, who is out.”
As BYU inches closer to the season, one thing is clear: on paper, this roster is stacked. Returning players like Dallin Hall, Trevin Knell, Fouss Traore, Richie Saunders, and Trey Stewart form a seasoned nucleus. Adding to that core are Dawson Baker, who’s coming back after missing most of last season due to injury, and new arrivals such as Utah transfer Keba Keita and Rutgers transfer Mawot Mag. Then there’s the 2024 freshman class, which many are touting as the most talented in the program’s history—featuring players like Egor Demin, Kanon Catchings, Elijah Crawford, and Brody Kozlowski. This mix of experience and young talent promises to make the Cougars a formidable force.
Oh, and there’s also Mihailo Boskovic, a recent 6-foot-10 Serbian addition to the team, whose classification is still somewhat of a mystery. At 22 years old, Boskovic’s status remains “to be determined,” as Young put it. Navigating NCAA eligibility rules has become a learning curve for the new coach, who’s spent much of his career in the NBA and NBA G League.
“I am learning [about NCAA eligibility rules] on the fly, brother, trust me. It is definitely [complicated],” Young said with a chuckle. Despite the complexities, one thing is certain: Boskovic has the potential to make an impact. Young praised his versatility, work ethic, and basketball IQ, describing him as a “stretch five” who can protect the rim and play multiple positions. "He is a little bit older, which is good. He has fit in well. To really summarize him, I just think he is a guy who knows how to play,” Young said.
It’s not just Boskovic who has impressed. Young has also noticed that veterans like Trevin Knell, Richie Saunders, and Dallin Hall are ahead of the curve in grasping the new offensive schemes. “That was something I expected,” he said, referring to their familiarity with the team’s system and concepts. These older guys bring a maturity and focus that will be crucial in BYU’s attempt to navigate a grueling Big 12 schedule.
And while the team looks strong, not everything has gone smoothly. Young revealed that a couple of players are currently “banged up,” though he was quick to reassure that their injuries are not serious. Despite the setbacks, he expects them to be fully ready when the season kicks off. The challenge, however, has been managing practices with some key players sidelined.
What Young brings to the table is a wealth of professional experience. His years in the NBA and G League have influenced how he approaches everything from player rotations to in-game strategies. One significant difference between the NBA and college basketball, Young noted, is the game’s structure. In the NBA, teams play four 12-minute quarters, while college ball features two 20-minute halves. “You can get into a pretty clear substitution pattern [in the NBA]. That was something I was heavily involved with in the NBA world,” he explained. “Obviously this is a totally different thing in terms of when are the timeouts, halves, and so forth. So we are trying to map out what our substitution patterns will look like. Because for me it is not just about the starting five, but it is what combinations of guys are playing, who pairs well with who.”
If there’s one thing that BYU fans love as much as a competitive team, it’s being part of the excitement. And this season, they’re all in. The school recently announced that season tickets are completely sold out, underscoring the buzz surrounding this year’s squad. This kind of enthusiasm reflects the fans’ faith in the direction Young is steering the team.
Trevin Knell, one of the team's senior leaders, spoke to the media before practice and confirmed what fans have been hoping to hear. “We have been going really, really hard. The competitiveness is already at a high, high level. So I think that is something that we are going to hang our hats on this year, is just how hard we can compete,” Knell said. “And then we are just trying to jell at this point. I feel like we have the skill level. Now we just need to get the chemistry down and figure out the scheme of everything. But it is super fun. It is super competitive, and who doesn’t love to play basketball?”
As the days tick down toward the season opener, the anticipation continues to build. Will Young’s first year leading the Cougars be a breakout success? With a loaded roster, a competitive mindset, and the support of a sold-out arena behind them, the pieces are certainly in place for something special.
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