BYU gets big commitment
BYU’s success with 3-4 front continued Saturday as the Cougars got a huge oral pledge to sign in February from a highly sought-after recruit from California.
Uona Kaveinga, a linebacker who had once committed to UCLA, had an offer from USC. He is listed as a four-star recruit by Scout.com. If you are into the “star” rating, then you should be impressed. Says Scout.com, “…vicious big time hitter that shows no mercy.”
BYU hosted 21 recruits this weekend and most were in attendance to see BYU run past CSU in the Marriott Center Saturday afternoon.
It was there, at halftime, they listened to Bronco Mendenhall invite fans to be part of a “Quest for Perfection,” next season.
BYU had two scholarships to give and most of the recruits on this trip have already committed to the Cougars. One BYU recruiter, when asked if all the oral commitments on board were solid and re-verified, answered that they were, including Kahuku DB Te’o Shiloah, who gave his pledge in person to Bronco Mendenhall last June.
Te’o joined other committed recruits on this weekend visit. Other prospects who came to Provo uncommitted include Florida WR O’Neill Chambers, Hemet, Calif., OL Hamani Stevens and Leuzinger, Calif., LB Uona Kaveninga.
BYU invited 23 recruits but 21 showed. Two apparently backed out at he last minute.
—
BYU got off to an impressive MWC start with a 92-73 win over CSU. I say impressive primarily because of the score, which is all many will know of this game.
On paper, there were plenty of reasons for BYU to head into Tuesday game against UNLV in the Thomas & Mack with concern.
I witnessed one of the stinkiest free throw exhibitions by a BYU team in some time. A decade ago, BYU was among the top three free throw shooting teams in the nation and often challenged for the NCAA free throw shooting title. In this game, they were barely above 51 percent.
The first half was not pretty, lots of missed shots and sloppy play.
The Good: Trent Plaisted and Jonathan Taverari each had 25 points.
The Bad: CSU isn’t very good and it shouldn’t have been close in the first half. Vuk Ivonovic did not suit up for the game and is nursing a stress fracture in his foot. He will have an MRI to determine if he will even travel to UNLV this week.
The Ugly: Free throws. On the season, BYU is shooting .665 from the line. In this game, Trent Plaisted and Chris Collinsworth went 3 of 7 and reserve center Chris Miles was 3 for 9. That’s a combined 9 of 23 and many were the front ends of double chances.