Kevin Young continues work on BYU basketball roster as summer practices begin

PROVO (KSL.com) – BYU basketball tipped off summer practices this week.

It’s an opportunity for Kevin Young to bring together his third roster this summer for an NCAA-approved eight hours a week.

But like anything else in college sports these days, practice isn’t the only thing that Young is juggling at the moment. He continues to work on building out BYU basketball’s roster for the 2026-27 season.

Kevin Young wants to fill all 15 spots on the roster

BYU has four open roster spots for the upcoming year, and Young says he wants to fill all of those spots by the time the season begins.

“We’ve looked at everything. I think the portal versus international, just kind of what are you looking for stylistically. I’m big on just team building,” Young said at the Marriott Center Annex on Tuesday. “So it doesn’t really matter for me if it comes out of the portal or it comes from the international ranks. Obviously, we have good relationships with people, overseas and whatnot, so we’re looking at all avenues.”

The position Young gets constantly asked about, whether at summer camps, around town, or at events with fans, is the center spot. What are they going to do?

BYU basketball is in “lockstep” with a big man

As was the case three weeks ago in Frisco at the Big 12 Spring Meetings, Young isn’t too worried.

“We’ve been in lockstep with really one specific guy for a while. There are a lot of logistical things that need to be ironed out on some of these guys, given their academic situations and where they’ve played and stuff like that. So we’ve been locked in with one guy in particular, can’t really say too much about it. Then there are other things that are going on as well. So, I appreciate the enthusiasm of the fan base in terms of wanting to have interest in the roster, but that’s where that part stands.”

Young didn’t give many hints about who that player could be. There are three different buckets to pull from: the transfer portal, international prospects, or high school players who might reclassify. It’s all on the table for Young and his staff.

As for the type of player Young wants at center, he’d like to see that player have “a little bit more size.” Someone who can pair with star point guard Rob Wright and can “play away from the basket a little bit more.”

Shooting was a top priority in the roster build

When building this roster, Young’s top priority was shooting. Last year’s team, which bowed out after the first round of the NCAA Tournament, knocked down 34.5% of its threes last season, a two-percentage-point dip from the Sweet 16 squad in Young’s first season.

Young likes the shooting collection assembled on this year’s team.

“Feel great about it. I think, on paper anyway, it’ll be our most prolific shooting team across the spectrum of all the positions. So I feel good about it. Now, it’s just a matter of trying to implement a style of play and shot quality and shot selection that we care about. But I think we have some really high-level shooting out there that should really allow us to play in a really open floor.”

One of the reasons BYU took a dip in shooting last year was the injuries.

BYU basketball injury update

Young provided an update on the players returning for the upcoming season.

Former UC Riverside transfer Nate Pickens is a “full-go” for the summer. Meanwhile, Dawson Baker is “a little bit ahead of schedule” in his recovery, while Brody Kozlowski is working his way back.

“He’s had a tough go,” Young said of Kozlowski. “He’s trying to just do everything he can to get back out there. So, yes, he will (practice). It’s just a matter of when.”

BYU will have some breaks in its summer practice schedule, before wrapping up a couple of weeks before the fall semester starts on September 2.