BYU head coach Kevin Young was finally able to give BYU 100% of his attention in recent days after the Suns withdrew from the NBA playoffs and the Big 12 meeting in Phoenix.
BYU has several goals and contingency plans, but here are some of the main goals the staff is focused on.
Queba Keita, Utah
Big-time players are in high demand and relatively low in supply. Keba Keita entered the portal late on May 1 and saw the results immediately. Keva had a lot of NIL offers from schools, but BYU remains a strong possibility. Keba will come to BYU on Monday for an official visit, according to multiple sources. Keva's local ties (he attended Wasatch Academy), his friendship with Faus and other players, and of course his relationship with new assistant Chris Burgess are all big factors in BYU's favor. BYU has some competition, but I think BYU is the frontrunner to land Keba at this point.
I'm a big fan of Keba's games. Keita started 13 of 35 games for Utah this season, averaging 8.3 points, 5.4 boards and 1.1 blocks in just 16 minutes per game. According to KenPom, Keva was second in Pac-12 play in offensive rebound percentage, 10th in defensive rebound percentage, fifth in block percentage and eighth in fouls per 40 minutes. Due to foul trouble, Keva only averaged 16 minutes per game. He averaged 5.3 fouls per 40 minutes.
He is only 6 feet 8 inches tall but plays much bigger with his wingspan and athleticism. Keba is primarily a 5 and brings a different skillset than Fouss. Faus can score with low blocks, while Keva scores with rim running and offensive rebounds. Kevin Young will play the pick-and-roll a lot, and Keva would be a great fit as a rim runner.
You can watch BYU highlights below.
Chaz Lanier, North Florida
Mr. Lanier may not be a household name, but he is one of the most productive guardsmen in the country. 247 Sports rates him the 10th best transfer this season. For context, Jackson Robinson is rated as the 35th best transfer.
A 6-foot-4 guard, Lanier is both productive and efficient. Last season, he averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 boards and 1.8 assists while shooting 51 percent from the floor, 44 percent from three and 88 percent from the foul line. Lanier does that with volume. He averaged 7.5 threes per game and made 106 threes on the season. His 44% 3-point shooting percentage was fifth in the nation.
Sources say BYU had a Zoom call with Lanier on Sunday (today) and has a legitimate chance with Lanier. Kevin Young showed Lanier his work with Devin Booker and envisions Lanier playing that role at BYU. Young's NBA experience and pedigree are a big draw for Lanier as he looks to improve his NBA prospects, and BYU has put together a competitive NIL offer as well. Lanier has many suitors from top schools, but sources say BYU will be among the top schools to land Lanier. Kentucky and Tennessee are also making strong pushes and are considered two favorites to win. The next step for BYU to acquire Lanier is to have him visit campus.
Lanier has one year of eligibility remaining. If BYU acquires Lanier, he would be a featured part of the offense and compete for All-Big 12 honors.
Check out Lanier's highlights below.
Other notable works
- Baake Buyuktunsel, UCLA — The 6-foot-9 Turkish forward was hampered by injuries during his freshman season, but showed why he is an NBA prospect. Burke started eight of the 26 games he played for the Bruins and averaged 4.5 and 2.5 boards. Burke can put the ball on the floor and has the ability to knock down the three-ball.
Burke is an upside player with NBA potential. ESPN's latest 2025 NBA mock draft had him projected to go 42 overall. Burke may not be at the top of BYU's board of directors, but he is someone BYU is pursuing.
- Elijah Crawford, Stanford signee — Crawford, a 6-foot-1 point guard, signed with Stanford in November as a member of the 2023 class. Crawford is rated a four-star recruit by ESPN and 247 Composite Rankings. Crawford is still under contract with Stanford, but he signed with his former staff when Brandon Danson was leading recruiting as an assistant. If Crawford and Stanford's current staff have different ideas, BYU is one of the schools to watch here because of the Danson-Crawford relationship.
- International players — BYU is talking to several international players. Overseas players usually don't sign until the summer, so it could be June or July before we hear about a deal. BYU has at least one spot reserved for an international player, officials said, but more spots could be available depending on who BYU adds to the transfer portal. I wouldn't be surprised if there are big men among the international players.