4 Key BYU Basketball Players Coming Back Next Season
These returning players will play important roles for BYU basketball in the upcoming season.
The 2024-25 college basketball season has wrapped up, and the offseason is now filled with excitement due to the chaos of recruiting and the transfer portal. Over 2,000 Division I men’s basketball players have entered the portal this year, which is nearly 35% of all players. BYU already made waves by landing Baylor freshman Rob Wright III.
This new era of college hoops is full of surprises, but a major trend among top programs is the amount of returning experience they bring. Analyst and stats expert Evan Miyakawa visualized this point perfectly.
For instance, both Houston and Florida — this year’s Final Four teams — had most of their player ratings come from returners. AJ Dybantsa joining BYU next season is thrilling, but this kind of data shows that veteran experience might matter even more than young talent when it comes to success.
Richie Saunders
Richie Saunders
2024-25 averages: 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists
The man known as Mr. Tater Tot. While Richie hasn’t officially said he’ll return, I’d be shocked if he didn’t. He was the Cougars’ go-to scorer this past year, and just think about how good he could be with defenses keying in on AJ instead.
Richie isn’t just a scoring threat — he’s an emotional leader and knows Coach Young’s system inside and out. If he comes back, he’ll be a core piece and one of the top players in the Big 12.
Keba Keita
NCAA Tournament – First Round –
2024-25 averages: 7.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.2 blocks
Keba is an athletic marvel. While he doesn’t light up the scoreboard, he brings exactly what BYU needs: boards and rim protection. He’s a reliable anchor on defense, and his presence next year will be a big bonus. Expect BYU to send opponents into the paint and let Keba handle the rest.
He’ll also be a great role model for freshman Xavion Stanton. Keita can help him and the other young bigs get comfortable in Kevin Young’s system.
Mihailo Boskovic
Mihailo Boskovic, Dawson Baker
2024-25 averages: 3.6 points, 1.7 rebounds
Boskovic wasn’t a major piece this season, but stepped up when needed. Since he joined late in the year, that likely affected his development. A full offseason to train and learn the system should really help him.
He could be a solid bench option on the wing next season. Coach Young’s “positionless” style helps Boskovic since he often gets smaller defenders on him. He could thrive in post-ups against guards.
Dawson Baker
Dawson is going to be vital for BYU’s plans next year. He’s the lone point guard returning, which means he’ll be important in replacing what was lost with Dallin Hall and Trey Stewart. While Rob Wright might start, Baker is a strong option behind him. He’ll help lead Wright and ease him into BYU’s pro-style offense.
With these four returning players and the new faces joining, BYU is shaping up to be a strong team. They bring back key production and add high-end talent. Cougar fans have plenty to look forward to.
