BYU basketball's athleticism shines in Blue-White scrimmage

There was a lot to take away from BYU basketball’s Blue vs. White scrimmage Wednesday night, but the main thing that stood out was the Cougars' overall athleticism.

This BYU team is an athletic, rangy and versatile group.

When Kevin Young was announced as BYU’s head coach, he wanted to grow and develop NBA talent. What fans and media observed in the scrimmage was a different BYU team than ever before. The size and athleticism of the newcomers that Young and his staff brought in will create headaches for every opponent they play this season.

The most noticeable athlete on the floor in BYU’s scrimmage was Utah transfer Keba Keita. His raw physical strength and jumping ability are a rarity in Provo. While only 6-foot-8, Keita still plays above the rim and more than makes up for what he lacks in height with his strength and explosiveness. He is the prototypical rim-running big man that will finish plays with authority, gobble up rebounds, and protect the rim. Keita is a perfect fit for what Young and his staff need to play their heavy screen-and-roll style of basketball.

But Keita is not alone in his ability to finish at the rim with authority.

Kanon Catchings is also a freak athlete. At 6-9, Catchings is twitchy and moves with the fluidity and grace of a guard. Catchings is less polished as a prospect compared to his freshman costar, Egor Demin, but he has elite upside as a scorer and defender.

“You know, he's a guy that can bail you out and a lot of dry possessions with the shot-making,” said Young. “I'm on him constantly about his defense, not that it's poor, but I just think if he can really guard It's going to just put our team and him in a whole different hemisphere.”

But wait, there’s more. Even Egor Demin got in on the action tonight, throwing in what we can call a dunk for the and-one.

Demin, a projected NBA lottery pick, will get more hype about his playmaking, shooting and basketball IQ than his athleticism. But with his size and speed, Demin will put out triple-double numbers this season. If you add Demin’s box scores from both halves Wednesday, he scored 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out nine assists. Demin’s length and size will create mismatches all year long for opposing teams who are too small to bother him or too slow to keep him in front of them.

The last newcomer that stood out was Mawot Mag, a graduate transfer from Rutgers. Deemed one of the best defenders in the country, Mag showed grittiness and relentlessness on defense and was always around the rim. While not as explosive as the other newcomers, Mag’s energy and hustle give BYU another primary point of attack defender next to Richie Saunders this season.

What Young and his staff have done in less than six months on the job is hard to believe. After BYU lost multiple vital cogs to its NCAA tournament team last season, it replaced and upgraded with better talent and athleticism.

Unlike last season, the Cougars won’t find themselves in many games this season where they are the less athletic team on the court. BYU has transformed into a prototypical NBA lineup with the versatility and athleticism on the roster. That alone gives them a better chance to contend for a championship in a loaded Big 12 conference and do damage in March, unlike previous Cougar teams.