Full Breakdown
BYU Basketball Transfer Portal: Four Players Still Searching for New Teams
4/25/2026, 2:37:24 PM
Transfer Portal Update
The NCAA transfer portal closed on April 21, 2026. Eight BYU athletes entered; two returned, two committed elsewhere, and five initially remained. After Aleksej Kostic announced his move to Northwestern, four former Cougars—KJ Perry, Kennard Davis Jr., Abdullah Ahmed, and Tyler Mrus—continue to seek new programs.
Roster Context
Last season BYU’s injury-hit roster left a glaring center vacancy that head coach Kevin Young has been trying to fill through the transfer market. Defensive lapses were evident throughout the season, underscoring the need for a dominant interior presence.
Players in Limbo
- KJ Perry – Guard, redshirt sophomore – Sat out 2026-27 due to eligibility; visited Utah; previously linked to Kansas, Oregon, Cal, Arizona State. Panic-meter: Medium.
- Kennard Davis Jr. – Wing, senior – Former Southern Illinois starter; noted for three-point shooting but defensive lapses. Panic-meter: Low.
- Abdullah Ahmed – Center, junior – Ex-G-League player from Egypt; limited scoring and rebounding, high foul rate. Panic-meter: Red Alert.
- Tyler Mrus – Wing, senior – Transferred from Idaho; 27 games, 9.6 min, 2.0 pts, 29.8 % from three. Panic-meter: High.
Impact on BYU
The four open spots, especially at center, leave BYU with reduced depth and pressure to secure a replacement before the 2026-27 season, influencing both on-court performance and recruiting narratives.
Official Response
Coach Kevin Young said the portal’s closure “doesn’t end the search,” and the staff continues to evaluate candidates, including international prospect Luigi Suigo.
Criticism
Analysts have called Ahmed’s play “disappointing on both ends,” questioned Perry’s cultural fit, and noted Davis’s defensive flaws and Mrus’s shooting decline.
Conflicting Reports
Sources differ on the exact programs still pursuing Kennard Davis Jr., and no player or prospective school has issued an official commitment statement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The transfer center market is lucrative at the moment, but you won't see many programs clamoring for this G-League dropout.” — Author, Lawless Republic
- “He was a complete zero on offense, incapable of scoring outide the paint (and virtually incapable inside the paint, too) with no playmaking or rebounding upside to speak of.” — Author, Lawless Republic
- “Tyler Mrus | Wing, Senior | Panic Meter: High Mrus was a great shooter at Idaho, and Kevin Young brought him on at BYU for exactly that reason: fill it up from beyond the arc.” — Author, Lawless Republic
Outlook
The NCAA eligibility withdrawal deadline is May 26, 2026, the NBA draft withdrawal deadline for internationals is June 13, 2026, and BYU anticipates a second wave of transfers within a month.
