Kevin Young is rapidly gaining national attention as BYU makes waves in the college basketball scene. Under his leadership, BYU has become a significant player in the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) arena, securing potential lottery picks and attracting interest from some of the nation’s top high school prospects in the class of 2025.
BYU’s emergence as a force in college basketball is nothing short of remarkable, given the university’s conservative reputation and historical challenges in recruiting elite talent. According to an anonymous CBS Sports poll of 100 college basketball coaches. BYU is now listed alongside Arkansas, Kansas, and Kentucky as one of the top four NIL programs in the country. For a program that has traditionally been viewed as an underdog, this recognition is almost unbelievable.
The signing of five-star Russian guard Egor Demin and Purdue-bound forward Kanon Catchings immediately demonstrated Young’s impact. These high-profile signings, along with a slew of coveted transfer portal players, have significantly bolstered BYU’s roster.
When asked whether he believes BYU truly has the third-best NIL program in the country, Young modestly responded, “I don’t know if anyone really knows.” Regardless, BYU’s NIL efforts have clearly turned heads. The 13th national ranking of Young’s first recruiting class of 2024 does not include Demin’s composite score. Should Demin receive his score, BYU’s class could easily crack the top 10. Putting them in the same conversation as powerhouse programs like Duke, Baylor, and Gonzaga.
The CBS Sports survey revealed that 76.3% of respondents viewed Arkansas as having the top NIL resources, followed by Kansas (43.2%), BYU (30.6%), and Kentucky (25.3%). Other notable programs like Indiana, Kansas State, and Baylor also made the list, but BYU’s presence is particularly noteworthy.
Young’s recruiting prowess has caught the attention of AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 high school player in the country, who is based in St. George, Utah. Dybantsa will officially visit BYU in October during the weekend of the BYU football game against Arizona.
Although NIL has been crucial to BYU’s rise, Young’s impact has also been undeniably significant. His ability to build relationships and implement an NBA-style approach to preparation, workouts. And expectations has made BYU an attractive destination for players with NBA aspirations. Young’s strategy is simple: aim high and go for it, a philosophy that has served him well throughout his career.
Growing up in a modest, mid-to-lower-income family with a father who was a traveling salesman, Young’s journey to the top of the basketball world has been anything but easy. He worked tirelessly to earn a spot on his high school team, then a junior college scholarship. And eventually made his way up the coaching ranks to the upper echelons of the NBA, where he served as a head coach four times.
“It’s all I know,” Young said, reflecting on his relentless work ethic and determination.
When asked if BYU’s strict honor code posed a challenge in recruiting top talent, Young dismissed the notion. Saying that only one prospect he pursued had an issue with the rules and chose to go elsewhere. In fact, Young believes the honor code helps filter out players who wouldn’t fit or work well at BYU. He presents recruits with a choice: prepare for the NBA or embrace the typical college lifestyle. So far, the prospects have chosen the former, opting to focus on their basketball careers without distractions.
“I haven’t run into a situation where there’s an honor code problem — so far,” Young noted.
Young is systematically dismantling the barriers that have long held BYU back. Critics have often claimed that BYU’s frugality, low coach and staff salaries, and stringent honor code would prevent the Cougars from ever being taken seriously on the national stage. But Young’s success in attracting top-tier talent is silencing those detractors. The fact that elite players are listening to his pitch and visiting BYU’s campus is proof that the program is on the rise.
Though Young has yet to coach his first-game at BYU, he is already laying the groundwork for a successful tenure. The early signs are promising, and he is steadily making progress toward building a nationally respected program.
BYU’s emergence as a player in the college basketball world is nothing short of extraordinary. Under Young’s leadership, the program is attracting top talent despite the challenges that once seemed insurmountable. In the past, faith guided BYU’s most sought-after recruits, like Shawn Bradley, to Provo. But now, Young is bringing in players who may have never even heard of BYU before. And who have no religious ties to the university. This shift signals a new era for BYU basketball.
As Kevin Young continues to break down barriers and elevate BYU’s status in the college hoops universe, it’s clear that the program’s future is bright. BYU is now a player on the national stage, and that is an achievement worth celebrating, no matter how you look at it.
