{"id":826335,"date":"2026-09-02T13:39:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T13:39:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/826335\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T13:39:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T13:39:23","slug":"byus-biggest-frontcourt-addition-still-comes-with-a-september-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/826335\/","title":{"rendered":"BYU\u2019s biggest frontcourt addition still comes with a September deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6f\">BYU added one of the most productive available big men when former Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler committed to the Cougars.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6k\">The word \u201cavailable\u201d still requires an asterisk.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6p\">Kohler currently is eligible for a fifth college season because of a temporary injunction granted through a California court. A ruling expected Sept. 29 could change that status, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vanquishthefoe.com\/byu-basketball\/27595\/byu-basketball-notebook-frontcourt-eligibility-questions-serbian-big-man-on-radar-kohler-urbaniak-peter-ostojic\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vanquish the Foe<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6u\">That leaves BYU preparing for a season while one of its most important players waits for another decision outside the basketball court.<\/p>\n<p>Jaxon Kohler changes BYU\u2019s ceiling<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"74\">Kohler averaged 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds last season at Michigan State while shooting 50 percent from the field.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Former Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler, who was cleared to play after a judge granted an injunction for Class of 2022 athletes seeking a fifth year, has committed to play for BYU.<\/p>\n<p>Kohler signed an Exhibit 10 contract and played for the Utah Jazz in summer league.\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ESPN (@espn) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/espn\/status\/2090639820422783151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">August 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7e\">Those numbers would immediately stabilize BYU\u2019s interior.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7j\">The Cougars need a center who can rebound through contact, finish possessions and punish smaller lineups. Kohler also brings Big Ten experience and a clear understanding of the physical demands attached to high-level college basketball.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7o\">His presence would allow BYU to organize the rest of its frontcourt around established production.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7t\">Without him, the situation becomes much less certain.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7y\">International big man Jakub Urbaniak also is awaiting clarity from the NCAA because of changing eligibility standards involving previous competition in European leagues. BYU has shown interest in 7-foot-1 Serbian prospect Petar Ostojic, but asking a developmental newcomer to replace Kohler would be a dramatic adjustment.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"83\">Khadim Mboup and Jake Wahlin would face significantly larger responsibilities if the Cougars lose both Kohler and Urbaniak.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"88\">That is why Sept. 29 matters.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8d\">Kohler received his opportunity through a state-level case separate from several federal eligibility challenges. The current injunction allowed him to enter the transfer portal and commit to BYU, but temporary legal relief is not the same as permanent certainty.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-15\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8i\">The Cougars must prepare as if Kohler will play while maintaining an emergency plan in case the ruling changes.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8n\">It is an uncomfortable way to construct a roster, but it has become familiar across college basketball.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8s\">BYU did not create the eligibility confusion. It simply made a smart basketball move within the current rules.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-18\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8x\">If <a href=\"https:\/\/bustingbrackets.com\/jaxon-kohler-could-become-the-most-fascinating-name-in-college-basketball-s-new-transfer-portal-wave-basketball\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Kohler<\/a> remains available, the Cougars have a proven starting big man. If he does not, one September ruling could reshape their entire season before practice truly begins.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/>Add us as a preferred source on Google<a aria-label=\"Follow bustingbrackets.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=bustingbrackets.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" preventdefault:click=\"\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\" on:pointerenter=\"q-D96xK5vj.js#s_1NOcOpHWmT0\" on:touchstart=\"q-B3uC5VQL.js#s_R8AiGTDeM28\" on:focus=\"q-TIRMn9Ji.js#s_gxiTM6qMMu8\" on:click=\"q-rpYCfeuj.js#s_lDqay9E5m5g[0]\" q:id=\"93\">Follow<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BYU added one of the most productive available big men when former Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler committed&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":826336,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3723],"tags":[7,217,231,772,1544],"class_list":["post-826335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ncaa-basketball","tag-basketball","tag-college-basketball","tag-ncaa","tag-ncaa-basketball","tag-ncaab"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/117201729516325058","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/826335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=826335"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/826335\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/826336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=826335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=826335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=826335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}