Busting Brackets
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WCC Basketball: Breakout candidates from each team for 2020-21 season

By Jason Burgess

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: A logo for the West Coast Conference basketball tournament is shown on the court before the championship game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: A logo for the West Coast Conference basketball tournament is shown on the court before the championship game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 25: Cody Riley #2 and Chris Smith #5 of the UCLA Bruins line up on the lane against Kolby Lee #40 of the BYU Cougars (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 25: Cody Riley #2 and Chris Smith #5 of the UCLA Bruins line up on the lane against Kolby Lee #40 of the BYU Cougars (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

WCC Basketball breakout candidate – Kolby Lee (BYU)

After losing to Saint Mary’s in the conference tournament, BYU was awaiting Selection Sunday when things came to a halt, and with that came the end of the college careers for their two best players, Yoeli Childs and Tyler Haws. Add to that seniors Jake Toolson and Dalton Nixon, you have junior guard Alex Barcello is the only one of the Cougars’ top-five scorers that returns for Head Coach Mark Pope.

Pope has brought in five recruits for next season and landed one of the most sought after transfers on the market, former Purdue center Matt Haarms, who will suit up next season, but the question remains, who will be able to step up and take on a bigger role for BYU next season? One of those candidates could be junior forward Kolby Lee.

The 6-9 Lee made 28 starts but averaged just 17 minutes per game and seven points and just over three rebounds in that time. After playing in just 17 games as a freshman, he shot over 62% from the field last season, he scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a November win over Houston and netted a career-high 21 in a win over San Diego. With opportunities now available and Lee flashing the talent when given the chance, he could become more of a stalwart in the Cougars’ lineup next season.