BYU men’s basketball coach Dave Rose received another commitment from a recruit this week.
Braiden Shaw, a 6-foot-8 post from Eagle, Idaho, will join the Cougars in 2015 after graduating from high school in 2013 and serving an LDS mission.
“It’s always been my dream school,” Shaw said. “Both of my parents went there, my grandpa was an assistant dean there, my dad played ball there, so it’s always been my school growing up.”
Shaw was also recruited by Boise State, Utah State and Washington State. In choosing between schools, he said he looked at much more than just basketball.
“I looked at other programs and there’s a lot of other great schools out there,” he said. “But I love what BYU stands for. I want to live and play with people that have the same standards that I do. Academically it’s prestigious and that will be good because it will challenge me.”
Shaw’s father played basketball for BYU’s junior varsity squad in the 1980s. Although he has never played with his dad at full speed, he said he received great basketball tips from the former Cougar.
“He hurt his back a while ago so I’ve never played him at full strength but he’s still good. He’s got a money shot,” Braiden Shaw said. “He always tries to bring back his glory days, tries to still live them.”
Shaw is one of five commits Rose has received this fall who is related to a former BYU player, along with T.J. Haws, Nick Emery, Jordan Chatman and Cooper Ainge.
Shaw took an unofficial visit over the weekend and loved the atmosphere of homecoming week.
“I love how spirited all of the students are, homecoming was definitely fun,” he said. “The football game was way fun. It was great for the team to get the win.”
Shaw is not the only prestigious athlete joining the Cougars from Eagle. The football team previously received a commitment from quarterback Tanner Mangum, regarded by some as the top high school quarterback in the nation. Mangum and Shaw are also teammates on the basketball court, as Mangum is a multiple sport star. Mangum will join the football team in 2014, while Shaw will join a year later.
