BYU Basketball takes a hit with loss of WCC DPOY center Matt Haarms

Few conferences have been as busy in the transfer portal as the WCC, as nearly every team has already landed at least one newcomer. One exception has been BYU Basketball who so far, has struck out with their targets. Transfer hunting can be fairly random but one potential reason could be the unknowns of whether or not key starters Alex Barcello and Matt Haarms will be coming back or not.

The NCAA has given all players an extra year of eligibility so seniors have been given the choice to come back for the 2021-22 season. While Barcello’s fate remains up in the air, we now know that Haarms won’t be returning for the Cougars. He stated at the end of the season that he was gone but rumors persisted that things could change.

Now that we know he is leaving, that puts into perspective what BYU Basketball could look like next season. Haarms averaged a career-high 11.3 ppg and was named WCC Defensive Player of the Year. The 7’3 center was a major defensive presence and improved the team on that end a ton. His departure certainly affects the Cougars on that end and with Kolby Lee off to Dixie State, leaves mainly Richard Harward as the depth at the center position.

Harward was solid off the bench in 16 mpg, averaging 6.1 ppg and 4.3 rpg. The question is whether or not he’s a guy that can play around 25 ppg effectively and remain a capable player on both ends of the court. He’s not a bad interior defender but can be exposed on pick and rolls and versus stretch bigs. The WCC didn’t have a ton of that last season but the respective roster overhauls will give BYU potential fits next season.

The good news for the Cougars is that their frontcourt can survive the absence of Haarms. Sophomore forward Caleb Lohner is a national breakout candidate, while often-injured power forward Gavin Baxter will hopefully be healthy for next year. The team also has a pair of incoming freshmen big men Fousseyni Traoré and Atiki Ally Atiki. Atiki is a more natural “five-man” so there’s a chance that he’ll be part of the frontcourt rotation in 2021-22.

Right now, the backcourt is the biggest concern for the program. Starting guard Brandon Averette is gone and if Barcello joins him, the Cougars would then have zero true ball-handlers on the roster. The hope is that they’ll land an impact transfer or two to remain viable next season but with Haarms gone too, the coaching staff may be looking to add proven depth down low as well.

Gonzaga remains a national juggernaut but based on how the rest of the WCC has operated this offseason, BYU Basketball is far from a sure bet from finishing in the top-3 overall once again. And with Haarms officially gone, the Cougars won’t have their interior stopper to prevent opposing frontcourts from scoring inside. You should never doubt head coach Mark Pope and the coaching staff but things have gotten very interesting in Provo when it comes to next season.