Byu Basketball Roster Breakdown, Starting Line -Up For Spelling: New era starts with the arrival of AJ Dybantsa

It is safe to say that entering the 2025-26 season, there is never more hype and perhaps more about the Byu program than this season.

This season, the Cougars made a splash by landing from the valued point guard transfer Robert Wright III of Baylor in the transfer portal. The cougars also return the first team All-Big 12 Selection Richie Saunders and may have the potential number 1 general choice in the 2026 NBA -Concept (AJ Dybantsa) – The number 2 -arranged player in the recruitment cycle of 2025 with 247Sports – on the Roster.

In his first season at the helm of the Byu program, coach Kevin Young Magic worked. De Cougars reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011, when Jimmer Fredette led the program to Glory. Byu has not been for the Elite Eight since 1981 and is looking for his first last four appearance in program history this spring.

Dybantsa is a top candidate alongside Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson from Kansas as the number 1 pick next summer. For the first time since 2004 (Babby Araujo), Byu produced a top 10 pick. Egor Dёmin, who was the first rated recruitment of Young, was selected with the number 8 General choice in the June design. Shawn Bradley (1993) was generally selected No. 2 and there is a chance that Dybantsa could surpass him as the highest player in school history.

With the players’ movement of College Basketball anything but done, it is time to break the gratings of the top programs of the sport. For this episode we look at Byu and we try to decipher what the line -up could look like when the season starts.

One of the best analysis -based teams in 2025? The Byu cougars. The cougars have continued to load in the portal and, among other things, added first -year phenomenon of Rob Wright III. The team also introduces potential no. 1 General Pick AJ Dybantsa. Gary Parrish and special guest Evan Miyakawa look under the hood at what Byu can be in 2025-2026.

Projected Starting Line -Up

1. Robert Wright LLL | 6-1 | 195 | So.

Wright was the biggest name Byu that was brought in this season out of season via the transfer portal. The former Baylor star was the number 8 general player who was available in the 247Sports Transfer Portal ranking and comes from a phenomenal first -year campaign. Wright was on average 11.5 points, 4.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds and started in 21 of 35 games. Wright brings an immediate scoring punch to Byu’s line-up and has big game experience.

2. Kennard Davis Jr. | 6-6 | 215 | Jr.

Davis was the number 56 general player who was available in the 247Sports transfer rankings and is expected to start in addition to Wright on the defense half. The former Southern Illinois star was on average 16.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Davis offers Schieten (37.6% of the 3-point line) and defense (1.3 steals) to the Byu setup.

3. I Dybantsa | 6-9 | 210 | Fr.

Dybantsa is the headliner of the new faces on Byu’s selection for obvious reasons. He will be the most talented recruit that is once suitable for Byu and has a real chance to be chosen next summer number 1. On 6-foot-9, Dybansta already has an NBA-ready frame and is the prototypical Jumbo wing that desires at the next level. If he can develop this season as a scorer on three levels, heaven is the limit for what Byu can achieve.

4. Richie Saunders | 6-5 | 200 | Sr.

Saunders is the most experienced player who returns to the program. He an average of 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists and earned all conference subjessions. During his career at Byu he was released in 103 games, with 35 of his 38 career starts last season. He linked himself to 43.2% of his attempts from outside. He offers more shooting for an attack that is expected to be elite this season.

5. Keba Keita | 6-8 | 231 | Sr.

Keita started in all 35 games, similar to Saunders, and on average 7.4 points and 7.9 rebounds. He started his career in Utah, where he started 13 in his first two seasons in college basketball. Keita on average a career high in blocks (1.2) and field target percentage (67.3%) last season. He doesn’t have to do much offensive, but he can offer value with his ability to end up on a high clip around the edge.

Banking

Nate Pickens | 6-3 | Sr.

Pickens comes to Byu after having spent the first three seasons of his career at UC Riverside. He appeared in 96 games in those three seasons and started 31 of 33 games last year. Pickens on average 9.8 points and shot 39.2% of the 3-point line.

Dawson Baker | 6-4 | 190 | Sr.

Baker will be a depth time for Byu. The former UC Irvine star was transferred to Byu in 2023 and appeared in 40 games in those two seasons. He an average of 7.5 points and shot 38% of the 3-point line last season.

Tyler MRUS | 6-7 | 205 | Jr.

MRUS is one of the many new faces in this byu grid. He an average of 9.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.6 steals in 31 games last year in Idaho. He ranked as a three-star transfer in the 247Sports ranking.

Mihailo Boskovic | 6-10 | Sr.

Bošković was on the Roster van Byu last season and appeared in 30 games. He an average of 3.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.4 assists. His role should increase this year after he had registered just over 11 minutes per match last season.

Dominique Diomande | 6-8 | 190 | Fr.

Diomande joined the Washington schedule (in January) and did not appear in a competition last season. He recently played 26 games for Ada Blois of the France-proof U21 League. He on average 16 points and shot 51.9% of the floor in those games.

Fill the schedule

Byu ended with the 13th ranked recruitment class in the 247Sports ranking, largely because of the addition of Dybansta. However, the cougars could also add two four-star recruitments to the schedule in Xavion Staton (no. 37 General) and Chamberlain Burgess (no. 101 General). It is unclear whether one of the two players will play an important role because of the depth on the Roster. Anyway, they could get a chance this season this season.

• Xavion Staton | 6-11 | 207 | Fr.
• Chamberlain Burgess | 6-9 | 205 | Fr.
• Dawson Baker | 6-4 | 190 | Sr.

Market watch

Byu’s opportunities to win 2026 NCAA Tournament (via Fanduel): +2000

Byu is bound with Louisville, Texas Tech and Kansas on 20-1 to win the NCAA tournament 2026. Purdue (9-1) is the current favorite, followed by Houston, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Uconn, Michigan and St. John’s. It is not surprising that Byu has favorable opportunities to win the national title, because byu is in that department from a purely talent perspective.

My prediction for Byu is that they will be at least a team that reaches the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. The ceiling for this team – depending on how Dybansta plays – is clear. Byu will be a very popular Final Four Pick and should challenge Houston for the Big 12 Regular and Conference titles. If all goes well, BYU could play for the right to play for a national title during the last weekend of the basketball season of the college next spring.