Who Kentucky is recruiting
Johnell Davis: #1 CBS transfer. Kentucky is firmly in the mix. Rumor is between them and Arkansas - No chance BYU could land
Amari Williams: 4 star transfer. Committed to Kentucky - No chance BYU could land
Great Osobor: #5 247 transfer. Took visit to Kentucky. Lots of smoke of him committing - No chance BYU could land
Richie Saunders: We know the details about him, but if Pope had no connection to him, I seriously doubt there would be any interest.
Not recruiting Dallin Hall
Didn't land Khalifa
Pope has the type of personality to go get the best. We saw it all the time when he was at BYU. Everyone was receiving contact from BYU. The difference now is he is going to land some top players. Not every year is he going to need to build an entire roster. He will be able to pick and chose from the best transfers because he is at Kentucky. if he needs a roster shuffle each year, he won't last long. If he needs the 3* - low 4* players BYU can get, he won't last long. Kentucky has advantages, but with that comes expectation.
BYU also still has recruiting roadblocks. We are going to improve a little bit in the Big 12, but we aren't ever going to be recruiting like a blue blood. Our best chance to find success is to have a coach have success. If young gets wins in the NCAA tournament and we are a mainstay in the top of the Big 12, recruiting is going to be so much easier. If young gets players to the NBA, recruiting is going to be so much easier. Nobody from BYU has been drafted since Jimmer. That has to change if BYU is going to recruit big time players. If that happens, we don't have to worry about Pope. Players will stay because they know they can win and make the NBA.
The only thing I am worried about is NIL. If players are leaving because of NIL, that isn't because Pope left to Kentucky. That is a function of the system.
BYU still has the pull where players commit to the school. Look at Noah Waterman. He hasn't wavered. Look at Fouss. He hasn't wavered. Look at Baker. He hasn't wavered. Look at Trevin Knell. He hasn't wavered. All different backgrounds. All different reasons for staying. Those types of players BYU will still get.
Success breeds success. Here's to Coach Young finding that success.