BYU: New additions bring new excitement

PROVO -- After losing the best player in thirty years to wear Cougar blue, it would be easy to get down and think that next year will be somewhat of a down season.

In January, the Cougars lost big man Chris Collinsworth to a knee injury that required surgery. Then with the loss of Brandon Davies to honor code issues, the Cougars only had one true low post player, James Anderson.

Anderson struggled on offense and found himself getting into foul trouble far too often to allow him to be an effective and consistent option off the bench.

Next year the Cougars will have at least four, maybe five players who are threats in the post if Davies is able to re-join the team. They'll also have five players on the roster next season that have not played a regular season game for BYU.

Nate Austin is a 6'10" center from Alpine, UT and was a teammate to Tyler Haws. Austin is known for his work ethic and also has the ability to step out and shoot the three. Austin is returning from the Texas McAllen Mission. Coach Dave Rose was complimentary of his ability to fit into the BYU system.

"Nate (Austin) has a unique combination of size and skill," Rose said. "He can stretch the defense with his perimeter shooting, has great basketball instincts and runs well for a player his size."

Ian Harward is a 6'10" center from Orem, UT. Harward is a traditional post player that plays well with his back to the basket and has shooting range out to 15 feet. He is returning from the Texas San Antonio Mission.

"I like Ian's (Harward) work ethic," Rose said. "He plays with energy and passion and is skilled in the post and is a good rebounder and shot blocker."

Anson Winder was on the Cougars' roster this past season as a redshirt freshman

"He's a versatile guard and a terrific athlete," Rose said. "Anson is a very capable scorer and takes pride in being an excellent defender and rebounder. He will flourish in our transition game. Anson is a dedicated team player."

Winder will most likely play at the shooting guard position, but may see time at point guard until transfer student Matt Carlino is eligible to play.

Carlino has been on the Cougars' roster since late December, and has had a lot of hype following him since he was in high school. After a rough beginning at UCLA, which included a concussion, Carlino decided to transfer to BYU. Carlino should be able to compete for the point guard position when he becomes eligible next winter semester.

"Matt is a playmaking guard. He's a terrific shooter that can score off the dribble and is an excellent distributor," Rose said. "He has the versatility to play multiple positions but our expectation is that his natural position is point guard."

Damarcus Harrison is a 6 foot 5 inch shooting guard who ranked among the top 100 recruits in the nation, and 21st among shooting guards by Rivals.com. Harrison might be one of the most athletic players the Cougars have had in a while. He shines in the open court, can shoot from deep and finish strong at the rim.

"We're excited that Damarcus has chosen to be a Cougar," Rose said. "It has been a very long recruiting process and our coaching staff has done a terrific job in that process. Damarcus is a gifted, athletic player that has a very high skill level. He's a terrific perimeter shooter.

"Damarcus has been an integral part of very highly successful programs, both on the high school and AAU levels. He will have an opportunity to play a big part for us from day one."

It will be an eventful season for the Cougars who will have to work out a new identity for the team after losing Fredette and changing conferences (West Coast Conference). Rose has proven in the past that he has the ability to bring out the most in a team, and will have his work cut out for him next season.

Next season's potential roster:

Email: mhopkins@ksl.com

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