It has been reported for a while that BYU was the frontrunner to land Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler, and now it is official, as he committed to the Cougars on Thursday, according to On3’s Joe Tipton.
Kohler had a Zoom meeting with Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats coaching staff on Wednesday, but BYU ultimately won out.
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The decision makes sense for Kohler, as he could not return to Michigan State because the Spartans had a full roster. Instead, he decided to return to his home state of Utah and become a Cougar.
Pope previously hired Kohler out of high school when he was at BYU, but Michigan State ultimately won out. Pope tried to recruit him again this offseason, but he was unsuccessful in landing the 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward.
Kentucky fans likely will not have to worry too much about playing against Kohler or BYU, as the most likely way the two teams would meet would be during the NCAA Tournament.
Kohler spent all four years of his collegiate career with the Spartans and is now seeking a fifth season of eligibility, which he was recently granted through the Colorado lawsuit against the NCAA.
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This past season, Kohler averaged 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting 38.9% from 3-point range. He showcased his talent against Kentucky in the State Farm Champions Classic, finishing with 20 points on 8/12 shooting (2/2 from deep) to go with five boards, two assists, and one block in Michigan State’s 83-66 victory over the Wildcats.
BYU is expected to have another strong starting five, but the Cougars could lack the much-needed bench depth they had last season. The projected roster includes returning star point guard Rob Wright III, Kentucky transfer guard Collin Chandler, and 5-star forward Brunch Branch III.
For now, Kentucky will continue to explore other options to fill its final roster spot, with many believing the Wildcats could receive a commitment from Missouri forward Mark Mitchell if he is granted eligibility.
