BYU seniors feature star power, role players


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

After a year's absence, Senior Night returns to the Marriott Center on Thursday, as four BYU hoopsters--Skyler Halford, Tyler Haws, Josh Sharp and Anson Winder--play their final regular-season home game. Injured senior Nate Austin plans to pursue a medical-hardship waiver to allow his return to the team for next season, so he will not be included in the farewell festivities.

Last year's roster did not include a single senior, making this week's send-off the ninth in Dave Rose's ten seasons as BYU head coach. He's accustomed to the unique nature of a night that goes from flowers and family to opening tipoff in a matter of moments.

"Senior Nights are always emotional nights," says Rose. "Usually until that first four-minute timeout, you get a real interesting vibe. I remember Jimmer (Fredette)'s Senior Night; he had a terrible time the first eight to ten minutes of the game, then he went on and had an unbelievable finish."

"Senior Nights are happy occasions in one way and sad in another--emotions will be high. Knowing it's our own only game this week, hopefully we'll be prepared. I hope we get a good crowd in here and the guys play well."

No one in BYU history will have played better than Haws-—at least when it comes to scoring. He is 35 points away from breaking Fredette's career scoring record, and whether it happens on Thursday home to San Diego or on the Cougars' road trip the following week, a record set four years ago will soon fall.

"I look forward to Ty breaking that record, if that's what's going to happen," said Rose. "I really believe that he is as special a player as BYU has ever seen, and it couldn't happen to a better guy."

While Haws will grab most of the headlines as his BYU career winds down, his fellow seniors have made memorable contributions, particularly as the Cougars have authored a late-season resurgence and postseason push.

"It's fun for me to be able to see these seniors just play so well late in their careers and then to experience some success," Rose says. "It's a committed group of guys. They come every day. They're committed academically; they're committed to their game and to improve. They're committed to this team."

Skyler Halford

A transfer from Salt Lake Community College, the energetic Halford started 13 of 35 games during his junior season, and has started four of 27 games this season. He has saved his best for last, scoring in double figures in eight of his last nine games, averaging almost 14 points per game over that span. He has made at least one three-pointer in 10 straight games, and has made 54 of 61 free throw attempts this season.

In WCC play, he is in the top 20 in scoring, and is 5th in field-goal percentage—-remarkable for a shooting guard. He is 5th in free-throw percentage, 6th in both three-point field-goal percentage and three-pointers made per game, and 11th in assists per game.

If the conference were to award Sixth Man of the Year honors, Halford would be a worthy candidate. His style of play and skill set have given BYU a big-time boost off the bench. His on/off switch is always on.

Tyler Haws

BYU's 2nd all-time leading scorer (at least for another game or two), Haws is BYU's career leader in free throws made, free-throw percentage, 20-point games, and games started. He is 2nd in double-figure scoring games, free throws attempted and minutes played, 3rd in field goals made and attempted, and 4th in points per game.

By any measure, he is among the best shooters and players to wear Cougar blue, and played much of his senior season while dealing with the effects of a December ankle sprain that was feared would sideline him for multiple games. He didn't miss a single game, despite an injury that he said initially felt worse than any other ankle ailment he had ever experienced.

A member of Team USA's 2013 World University Games team, Haws is the personification of a self-made player--constantly developing, refining and adding skills to his athletic portfolio. His work ethic is legendary, and his value as a teammate is impossible to accurately assess.

Often described by Rose as a "relentless scorer," Haws' consistency is not limited to nightly point totals. It shows up in every facet of his play, even and especially during solitary workouts.

Always on the run to get open, and frequently on the receiving end of hard fouls which punished (and rewarded) him for his persistence, Haws is one of a vanishing breed: a mid-range specialist for whom a 15-foot jumper looks as easy as a lay-up. Of course, the appearance of ease is but an illusion—-much like his vaunted "okey-doke" fake pass-turned shot that has left many a defender swivel-headed and empty-handed.

In trying to identify a signature moment for Tyler Haws, one is hard-pressed to isolate a single shot or game, because so many of his shots and games have looked the same—-in the most remarkably reliable and record-setting way. With key contests left to play, perhaps Haws' most memorable performance is still to come, but he won't need a big game or big shot to cement a legacy that was constructed with constancy.

Josh Sharp

A former Utah Runnin' Ute, Sharp has started 28 of 108 games played at BYU, with his three most recent starts among the most impactful.

Having played a total of 29 minutes over a two-month span, Sharp started and played 28 minutes at Loyola Marymount on Feb. 7, making an immediate and significant contribution as a rebounder, while adding some bonus scoring and distribution. Over the last three starts, starting with that game in L.A., Sharp has averaged seven rebounds per game, adding 13 total points and 9 assists. His offensive rebounds have turned into many second-chance points, and his leaping frame has been a welcome sight for a team in need of a little shot in the arm up front.

Sharp serves as a reminder that a role player's role can change in a hurry, for better or worse. He kept himself ready through a senior season that was not playing out the way he had hoped. His practice habits remained steady, and his experience ultimately proved priceless. He may end up being a key factor in BYU's return to the NCAA tournament, should the Cougars get back on the right side of the bubble.

Anson Winder

A fifth-year senior who was a redshirting freshman during BYU's "Jimmermania" campaign of 2010-11, Winder started 15 games during his rookie campaign the following season, then started only 10 games over his sophomore and junior years. The conclusion of his junior season featured successive productive starts, and they ended up serving as a springboard to his senior season.

Winder has in 2014-15 started nine times in 24 games, and has been BYU's second-leading scorer, while dealing with different late-season injuries that have caused him to miss a handful of games down the stretch. Shooting nearly 50 percent from the field this season, Winder is third on the team in both three-pointers made and free throws made.

Rose hopes Winder can recover from a recent groin injury to play on Senior Night, and knowing Winder, he'll do all he can to make sure that happens.

Most recent Sports stories

Related topics

SportsBYU Cougars
Greg Wrubell

    ARE YOU GAME?

    From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.com’s top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast