BYU Basketball Recruiting Notebook, 5/17: Updates on Chaz Lanier, Elijah Crawford, Maxim Logue, and Others

BYU Basketball is right in the middle of a recruiting windstorm. Brody Kozlowski and Utah transfer Keba Keita have already committed to BYU, and BYU has completed other visits and will host other visitors. Below is the latest on some of the top targets. BYU is also talking to other targets who have not been reported publicly.

One important thing to note is the timing of the dead period. The dead period begins 5/22 and runs through 6/2. Coaches can talk to recruits during that time, but all in-person contact is prohibited, meaning coaches can’t visit recruits and recruits can’t visit campus. Keep that in mind for some of the below players.

Chaz Lanier, North Florida

As I reported earlier this month, BYU completed a Zoom call with Chaz on May 5 and put themselves among his top schools. Sources tell me BYU is competitive with NIL for Chaz, and Kevin Young’s NBA background and offensive acumen are enticing for Chaz whose goal is to make the NBA. Kevin Young has shown Lanier what he did with Devin Booker and envisions Lanier having that type of role at BYU.

According to Travis Branham of 247 Sports, Lanier will take an official visit to BYU this weekend followed by a Kentucky visit Monday. A visit to Tennessee is still reportedly on the table. Chaz would have to finish any other visits before Wednesday (5/22) if he wants to visit another campus before the dead period.

One industry source familiar with the situation told me earlier this week he believed BYU was right behind Tennessee and ahead of Kentucky. It’s unclear to me at this time what these visits say about the pecking order of those 3 schools. That order could have changed in the last few days.

Lanier is one of the most productive guards in the country. 247 Sports rates him as the 11th best transfer this cycle; for context, Jaxson Robinson is rated as the 36th best transfer.

A 6-foot-4 guard, Lanier combines both production and efficiency. This last season he averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 boards, and 1.8 assists on 51% shooting from the floor, 44% from three, and 88% from the foul line. Lanier does that with volume. He averaged 7.5 threes per game and made 106 on the season. His 44% 3-point shooting was 5th best in the country.

Chaz recently participated in the NBA G-League combine and has yet to withdraw from the NBA Draft. If BYU were to land Lanier, he’d be a featured part of the offense and contend for All Big 12 honors.

Maxim Logue, France

The French big man took a visit to BYU this past Monday which was one of 4 visits he took. He also took visits to Creighton, Oregon State, and Incarnate Word. Sources tell me that BYU and Oregon State are the two favorites to land him. Logue’s English language skills aren’t necessarily top notch, so part of this may come down to if BYU would take a commitment now and push/assume he will be able to get admitted into school.

The 6-foot-9, 18-year-old French player is an elite athlete with high upside. Logue plays both the 4 and 5 spots in international play but likely projects more as a 5 man at the college level. Logue projects as a rim-running 5 on offense and a rim protector on defense. Logue is more of a developmental piece, but he would provide depth early on at BYU and develop more as his career progresses.

Berke Buyuktuncel, UCLA

The 6-foot-9 transfer from UCLA has vaulted up the priority list for BYU after Noah Waterman entered the transfer portal.

The 6-foot-9 Turkish forward was hobbled by injuries his freshman season, but he showed flashes why is a NBA prospect. Berke started 8 of 26 games he played in for the Bruins, averaging 4.5 and 2.5 boards. Berke can put the ball on the floor and has the ability to knock down the three ball. One industry source compared him to a modern day Toni Kukoc.

Berke is a high upside player with NBA potential; in ESPN’s latest 2025 NBA mock draft they projected him to go 42 overall. Berke was rated a 4-star recruit by 247 Sports in the 2023 class and the #36 overall recruit. He was impressive in international play before his time in UCLA and should be a big addition in whatever program he lands at next.

Berke can play either the 3 or 4 spots, but he would likely predominantly play the 4 at BYU and slide right into a starting role there. He’s not the shooter that Waterman is, but he is better at putting the ball on the floor and scoring in more ways.

Berke arrived to BYU Monday night for his visit and spent all day in Provo Tuesday; by all accounts Berke loved his visit (which is to be expected for any visit). Sources tell me this is between BYU and Nebraska. Berke arrived in Lincoln Wednesday for his official visit, meaning his OV there should end today.

I have not heard what Berke is thinking after his Nebraska visit. This is not a crystal ball, but I would peg BYU as a slight favorite. Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg has NBA experience like Kevin Young, but on paper BYU presents a clearer path to significant playing time and a starting role. He likely would not start at Nebraska right away, whereas BYU gives him the chance to start day one. I would not be surprised if Berke commits in the next week.

Elijah Crawford, Former Stanford Signee

Wrote about the 4-star guard earlier this week and BYU’s chances after he decommited from Stanford. Since then, Crawford is slated to visit BYU Monday. This comes right before the 5/22 dead period, so Crawford is limited as to what other visits he can take before the dead period ends 6/2. One school I’m paying particular attention to is Kansas. The Jayhawks quickly reached out to Crawford after his decommitment as they try to bring in another point guard. I believe the Jayhawks are the biggest threat to BYU.

As it stands now, BYU has a good chance to land Crawford if his visit goes well early next week. He has a very close relationship with BYU assistant Brandon Dunson and that is is the number one thing in BYU’s favor. Crawford would be immediately slated for backup point guard minutes behind Dallin Hall and could compete for other minutes in the backcourt as well.