Kevin Young is putting the finishing touches on one of the better recruiting runs in BYU basketball memory.
For one of his final scholarship spots, Young added projected NBA draft pick Kanon Catchings to the roster Tuesday. The Overtime Elite prospect is expected to be a one-and-done player in college. He was previously committed to Purdue.
Catchings fills BYU’s need to add a scoring threat in the front court. At 6-foot-9, Catchings has the ability to stretch the floor. He averaged nearly 15 points a game at Overtime Elite and has the ability to score in bunches.
He scored more than 20 points three times last year. He did that while shooting 36% from three and 54% from the floor.
When Catchings decommitted from Purdue, BYU quickly landed on his radar. Young hired former Overtime Elite coach Tim Fanning to his staff last month. Fanning worked with Catchings last year.
Catchings has deep basketball ties. He is related to Tamika Catchings, the Hall of Fame basketball player who was a WNBA MVP. His father played professionally and his mother, Tauja, was one of the best players in the Big Ten during her time at Illinois.
Catchings is the second freshman signed by Young who is likely a one-and-done player. Russian prospect Egor Demin is expected to be a lottery pick. He’s also a 6-foot-9 scorer who played 21 games last season for Real Madrid.
Young now has three ESPN top 100 players on the roster, plus Demin. Brody Kozlowski and Elijah Crawford committed to Young a few months ago.
Young’s roster has the potential to be the most talented lineup that BYU has ever had going into the second year of the Big 12.
Beyond the freshmen, Young added Rutgers transfer Mawot Mag and Utah center Keba Keita. Mag was rated a four-star transfer by 247Sports. Young also retained point guard Dallin Hall and running mate Richie Saunders through the transfer portal.
