Coming off the most banged up BYU basketball team in recent decades, the team still managed to improve significantly from the previous season. Health uncertainties for most key players approaching the 2015-2016 season is reason enough to restrain optimism. But most of the news from camp Provo is very encouraging.

OK OK. So i'll wait a couple of months before my rosyscenario 30-win prediction, maybe.

Key takeaways:

1. Aytes has been cleared but is still nursing a slight bruise. He is making the trip to Spain and is expected to get some significant minutes. Aytes' midrange shot is described as deadly. We already knew what he can do inside. When you think of Aytes, think of Stacy Davis of the Waves.

2. Austin is healthy, certainly as much as can be hoped for. He looks quick and aggressive but his minutes were managed as they will be during the season. i would look for further improvement over prior years from Nate.

3. Kaufusi looks smarter, stronger and quicker. No one could handle him down low. He had several strong blocks, many dunks and short shots, and was dominant rebounding. He knows where he is under the basket and we can expect a couple of dazzling spin moves next season. He loves them. His only downside remains his suspect hands. He is still learning how to play and didn't see a couple of nice no-look feeds from KC.

4. Davis has nice hooks with either hand and a solid mid range jumper. Good all around player.

5. As a whole, coaches are over the top excited about these 4 bigs if they stay healthy.

6. It would be difficult to overstate how great a player Kyle Collinsworth is becoming. He plays at a level beyond his teammates. First time in years he is going all out, quicker stronger than ever and ready to lead. Looks like we will see what he can do fully healthy and fully in charge of the team on the floor.

7 Fischer and Emery (in long sleeves) shot lights out from very long range.

8. Chatman played in 6 games, all on the winning team, hitting his jumper and looking quick and healthy. Same with Seljaas, who is not that quick but works hard on defense and hits the open 3. Both have judgement that looks very mature for freshmen.

Players participated in 7 full court pickup games at SFH on two different courts. Former and future Cougars Lee Cummard and Gavin Baxter participated. Did not see Hartsock, Calvert or Shaw (though i wouldn't recognize him) and was told that with the exception of Emery, the RMs were not yet ready to play.

Divided into 3 teams and winners stayed on the court. Same team won every game (7) and for the most part, quite handily. Winning 5 players were Collinsworth, Fischer, Kaufusi, Chatman, and Seljaas. Losing teams did some mixing and matching but in at least 3 of the games had Austin, Davis, Emery, Cummard, and Baxter. Cooper Ainge played quite a bit and a couple of guys i don't know also played some. Didn't see Toolson. Aytes was there on the sidelines as were Jeff Chatman, Corbin's dad, and coaches in watch mode only.

Collinsworth was doing his best LeBron James impression excluding the outside shot. He played every minute of those 7 games, repeatedly stole the ball, slammed a dozen or so dunks usually after a freight train drive to the rim, passed nicely, and rebounded well. He looks much quicker and stronger than last year. I expected him to take some jumpers given all the talk that 3 point shooting is a sine qua non for his next level preparation; and he did, but only in a shoot around after the game. He did not take a single 3pt shot during the 7 games. His shot looks decent enough but he doesn't feel the need to take it. And why should he if the objective is to win games? Emery and Fischer were not only deadly from long range all day long but their range invokes the Jimmer and beyond.

Seljaas hit a couple of 3s, Chatman hit several from the corner, and Baxter was very impressive teaming with Emery for a couple of nice lobs and dunk. Emery is the real deal; can shoot, get to the rim, and run the point. Both he and Ainge sometimes get into trouble trying to dribble through traffic. Fischer can also be a nice passer and betimes get to the rim as we saw last season.

Baxter looks like he could contribute right now.