Alex Barcello is returning to BYU next season and will use his additional year of eligibility, he told College Hoops Today on Friday night.
The 6-2 guard averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.3 rebounds last season for the Cougars, who lost to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament after finishing 20-7 and earning a six seed in the bracket. Barcello has been the most accurate three-point shooter in the sport over the past two seasons, shooting a combined average of 48.1 percent from long distance.
“My ultimate dream is to play in the NBA,” Barcello said. “I felt that I could accomplish that under this coaching staff, but there’s also still a lot of unfinished business here. I want to win the WCC and advance in the NCAA Tournament.”
With the return of Barcello, BYU should be in position — along with Saint Mary’s — to be Gonzaga’s top challenger in the WCC next season. The Cougars are set to bring back several key players from last year’s team that gained valuable NCAA Tournament experience and also add a likely start in Milwaukee transfer Te’Jon Lucas.
“We’ve got guys like Gideon George and Caleb Lohner that could make major jumps next year,” Barcello added. “We’ve got a lot of talented pieces. I’m just so excited to know that I’m going to be back playing with these guys again next season.”
Leftovers
- The Breakfast Buffet: Arkansas visits Alabama, Illinois hits the West Coast, Nate Ament
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (2/17): Guest — Tennessee’s Rick Barnes
- The Breakfast Buffet: Big 12’s goal should be multiple teams in Final Four, Michigan/Purdue, UMass re-enters the spotlight
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (2/16): Kansas State, Richie Saunders, Houston, JT Toppin, Michigan’s big week
- The Breakfast Buffet: Michigan has a massive week, Houston/Iowa State, my heart breaks for Richie Saunders
