transfers. The big problem is very much the HC. (Well, that & all the other stigmas that go along with BYU, anyways.) The details of these kids' stories & interviews make it clear that Pope is NOT cutting corners. He is not hastily reeling in the best talent he can get his hands on like Cleveland did early on with his Fresno-area transfers (& got into quick trouble over) — or a little closer to home — like Mad Dog can freely do on the other side of town.

With the probable exception of two last-minute transfers, these kids have all been solid fits that wanted in on BYU, un-sugar-coated (& I include Te'Jon in this — who frankly explained he came because he trusted he could hold his breath for the two semesters he had to — & just focus on bball & the team goals (that, & the fact his mom & long-time father figure wanted him at BYU).

If you want BYU to land the high-end athlete of a PG like Rudi — except with the polished skillset we all WISH that Rudi had — well, you're gonna have to be patient. Cuz it's not likely we get that kinda kid to BYU from the transfer portal. It's much more likely that Pope lands that sorta non-LDS kid directly from the high school ranks.

But to land that sorta kid from the high school ranks (which would be unprecedented for BYU) — it's probably pretty important that we have a kid like Rudi come here & find success. Like him or not, he is an athlete & player on our current roster who we need to play at his best in order for us to play at our best.

But at the end of the day, let us remember it was Rudi Williams who chose BYU because he wanted to be at BYU.

And let us also remember that Pope is very much building his program as a true-to-BYU program. I know some of you guys think he's neglected his LDS base in recruiting, & to his own detriment (& I too have questioned a couple of his decisions on that front). But ultimately, whatever fault we might find there, I don't think you or I can rightly say that his visions for BYU are not very much true to the school & its mission.

I think it's clear when Pope chose to coach at BYU he very much did so because he wanted to represent the school & represent his faith. In the best way that he knows how.