BYU freshman Kanon Catchings scored a career-high 21 points as the Cougars closed out their preseason schedule with a 104-57 win over Florida A&M on Friday night.
But on a night when there were plenty of buckets to go around, it was how Catchings achieved his new personal best that left BYU head coach Kevin Young impressed.
“One of the things I love about Kanon is that he is extremely coachable. If we lock in on something, he really tries to go do what I ask. So as a coach, that’s really all you can ask for,” Young said. “I told him tonight after the game that I thought he took the right shots. For all of our players, but for him in particular, it’s not about making and missing shots, it’s just about taking the right ones, and that’s going to serve him well in terms of efficiency.”
Catchings kicked off a 22-0 blitz for the Cougars with an early runner in the lane. By the end of the night, the 6-foot-9 forward had showed off both his athleticism at the rim and his touch from beyond the arc.
Catchings finished 8 of 12 from the field, including a 4-of-7 night from 3-point range. He also recorded four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
“Today was pretty good,” Catchings said. “I just have to keep shooting the ball, not thinking so much and not hesitating, that’s really the main thing. At practice, they are always telling me to shoot the ball, shoot the ball, so I’m just glad it all came together. Hopefully, I can stay consistent through conference play.”
Calling on Kozlowski
Catchings wasn’t the only Cougar freshman to stand out.
After going scoreless in five limited appearances to start his college career, Corner Canyon High product Brody Kozlowski had eight points and three rebounds in 13 minutes against the Rattlers.
“He’s been a guy who has been really consistent at practice,” Young said. “He does everything we ask and is always in the right spot. I think his legs are finally getting under him after his injury early in the summer. He is shooting the ball much better in practice, so I just thought he deserved a little run out there and he clearly answered the call.”
The newest Cougar
BYU added to its roster with the midseason signing of Khadim Mboup.
A 6-foot-9 forward from Senegal, Mboup has spent time with the NBA Academy Africa and the Basketball Africa League Elevate program. BYU assistant Will Voigt coached the forward at Egypt’s Zamalek.
“He will be on the floor over the break and then he will be practicing with us right after Christmas,” Young said. “We are excited to have him, he will be a big-time athlete. Our practices will automatically have a different look to them with his size and athleticism. Our practices are tremendous, which is a byproduct of some of the depth we have. Every day in practice is really competitive and I think he will add to that.”
