The 2023 BYU Basketball Roster is Taking Shape
The BYU basketball program and head coach Mark Pope have been relentlessly recruiting the transfer portal to improve the roster for next season. After weeks of recruiting, the 2023 BYU basketball roster is beginning to take shape. Today, we take an early look at the 2023-2024 BYU men's basketball roster and where it stands today.
Departing Players
BYU will only lose two seniors to graduation from last year's team. As of today, three players have entered the transfer portal since the end of last season. Most recently, freshman Tanner Toolson entered the transfer portal. These are the players from the 2022-203 roster that will not be on the 2023-2024 roster.
- Rudi Williams - Guard (Graduation)
- Gideon George - Forward (Graduation)
- Braeden Moore - Forward (Transfer Portal)
- Hao Dong - Forward (Transfer Portal)
- Tanner Toolson - Guard (Transfer Portal)
More players could enter the transfer portal in the coming days. The transfer window for college basketball opened on March 13th and will close on May 11.
Returning Players (Name, Position, Eligibility)
- Noah Waterman - Forward - SR
- Trey Stewart - Guard - JR
- Jaxson Robinson - Guard - JR
- Atiki Ally Atiki - Forward - JR
- Tredyn Christensen - Forward - SO
- Richie Saunders - Guard - SO
- Spencer Johnson - Guard - SR
- Trevin Knell - Guard - SR
- Tanner Hayhurst - Guard - SO
- Dallin Hall - Guard - SO
- Fousseyni Traore - Forward - JR
- Jared McGregor - Guard - SO
BYU has a young core that it can build around in Dallin Hall, Fousseyni Traore, Richie Saunders, Jaxson Robinson, and Atiki Ally Atiki. Retaining those five players will be an important storyline this offseason. The transfer portal can only sustain a program for so long. In the long term, BYU will need to consistently hit on high school recruits and retain them in the program. So far, Traore, Hall, and Saunders look like the three most promising high school recruits in the Mark Pope era.
Over the last two seasons, scoring and creating offense has been a glaring weakness for this team. BYU has tried to address that concern through the transfer portal.
2023 Recruiting Class (Name, Position)
- NA
BYU hasn't signed any players as part of the 2023 recruiting class.
2023 Transfers (Name, Position, Eligibility)
- Aly Khalifa - Forward - JR
- Dawson Baker - Guard - JR
- Ques Glover - Guard - SR
The BYU basketball program landed its first transfer portal commitment of the offseason when Aly Khalifa committed to the program. Khalifa, who is listed at 6'11, is a native of Alexandria, Egypt. Khalifa has two seasons of eligibility remaining, and he is arguably the best passing big man in college basketball. It is his passing ability that stands out most when you turn on his film. Khalifa was also a proficient scorer for Charlotte, averaging 11.7 points per game last season on 51% shooting from the floor. He shot 38% from three while adding 6.3 rebounds per game last year.
Dawson Baker was the next transfer to commit to the program. In three seasons at UC-Irvine, Baker averaged 12.9 points per game on 46.2% shooting. Last season, Baker averaged a career high 15.3 points per game, and he averaged 3.2 rebounds per game along with 1.2 assists per game. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
BYU added a third veteran from the transfer portal in scoring guard Ques Glover. In 2021-2022, Glover ranked 34th nationally in scoring when he averaged 19.2 points per game. He also averaged 4.4 assists per game which ranked second in the Southern Conference. His prolific offense that season made him First-Team All Conference selection. That was also the last full season he played. In 2022-2023, Glover played in only 19 games due to injury and he averaged a team high 14.7 points per game.
2023 Returned Missionaries (Name, Position, Eligibility)
- Jake Wahlin - Forward - FR
Coach Pope's second recruiting class is returning home from the mission field. Jake Wahlin, listed at 6'8 195 lbs in high school, committed to the Cougars over Arizona State, San Diego State, and New Mexico among others. Wahlin prepped at Timpview High School just down the road from BYU's campus. Rumors have been swirling that Wahlin will not be joining the program. Until something official is announced, Wahlin will remain on the 2023 roster projections.
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