For BYU fans, Mark Pope's departure has never been more painful.
Former Cougars' Colin Chandler, the highest-rated player in program history during the 247Sports ratings era, was relieved of his duties and will join Pope at Kentucky.travis branham 247 Sports The news came first.
Chandler was the nation's No. 33 prospect in the Class of 2022 out of Farmington High School. He has been serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the past two years and is scheduled to return home next month.
After spending time counting down the days until Chandler's stint is complete and he can play for the Cougars, BYU fans are now left empty-handed in the final moments.
“I would like to thank Cougar Nation for accepting me as family from day one and supporting me during this precious time in my life,” Chandler said in a statement to 247Sports. “I am truly blessed to have experienced such a passionate and loving fan base. I am especially grateful to Coach Pope and the guidance and trust he has placed in me from the beginning.
“…In recent days, the path I previously envisioned has become blurred. After discussions with my family and much prayer, this vision has become clearer than ever. This journey at the University of Kentucky… I am humbled to have the opportunity to continue. Go Wildcats!”
Chandler is the No. 6 combo guard in his class and the No. 1 talent in the entire state of Utah, and his initial commitment to BYU is considered one of Pope's most notable wins with the program. I was there.
Now, instead of donning Cougar blue, he will be part of Lexington's Big Blue Nation as the first major addition to Pope's new program.
Since Pope's departure, Darin Hall, Ali Khalifa, and Richie Sanders have all entered the transfer portal, with further roster attrition expected in the near future.
Several players could also return to BYU, depending on who is hired to fill the head coaching vacancy.