WCC Basketball: Breakout candidates from each team for 2019-20
By Andy Patton
F Gavin Baxter – BYU Cougars
BYU is going to be scary good next season. They are retaining roughly 80% of the scoring, 76% of their rebounds and 78% of their assists from last season.
Plus, they are bringing in multiple solid transfers – including All-American Honorable Mention Jake Toolson, Richard Harward and Wyatt Powell from Utah Valley University, and guard Jesse Wade from Gonzaga, who sat out last year per NCAA rules.
That made it hard to pick a true breakout candidate, although the only expected newcomer to their starting five (aside from Toolson) is Gavin Baxter, a six-foot-nine post player who was named to the WCC All-Freshman team last season.
Baxter averaged 4.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game last year, appearing in 30 games and making eight starts. He made his first start on February 2 against LMU, pouring in 25 points with 10 rebounds on a cool 10-14 shooting.
He ended up averaging 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds as a starter, while shooting a blistering 69.8% from the field.
Now, for a team that returns Yoeli Childs, Nick Emery, TJ Haws, and adds Toolson and Wade, Baxter will have to fight for his touches down on the block. Regardless, he has the tools to be a double-digit scorer in this loaded offense, and is a clear-cut breakout candidate heading into the 2019-2020 season.