PROVO — Zac Seljaas’ two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Iowa was cut short by a shoulder injury, as he opted for surgery.

Don’t expect it to cut short his college basketball career at BYU, though.

“Zac has been on a constant, upward plane,” BYU coach Dave Rose said of the sophomore wing. “He hasn’t had a lot of setbacks, a few twinges in his shoulder, but it’s recovered quickly.”

The Cougars, who conclude the exhibition season at 7 p.m. MST Wednesday against Division III Colorado College, will rely on Seljaas’ return in the 2017-18 season — namely for his shoulder-workout, lights-out 3-point shooting on the perimeter.

The former Bountiful High star was a Gatorade Utah Player of the Year before committing to BYU, and he lived up to much of the hype in one season, shooting a cool 50 percent from 3-point range for 7.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game as a freshman.

BYU expects even more from him now — one can tell just by looking at him.

“He looked bigger to me,” Rose said. “I think he grew a half-inch, but he looked bigger and more established — ready to be a Division I factor. He shot the ball very well as a freshman, but I think he’s got a chance to really help this team and individually in his college career.”

Since returning home, Seljaas has fit right back into the Cougar offense in exhibition games against New Mexico and Westminster while playing on the wing.

“All through high school, I played on the perimeter. It’s fun to be there again,” Seljaas said. “I feel a lot stronger, with the new strength coach, I feel a lot better and a lot stronger.”

The transition has been nearly flawless in the early returns playing alongside guards TJ Haws and Elijah Bryant — neither of whom played during his most recent season of eligibility in 2015-16.

A team that experienced an unexpected amount of turnover in the offseason after graduating just two seniors has been able to find itself again through a combination of summer workouts, regular scrimmages and late-night meetups in the Marriott Center Annex practice facility, too.

But the best, Haws said, may be yet to come.

“Ultimately, I think this team is growing every day,” Haws said. “Our mindset is right coming into practice and now we are starting to relax a little more. We’re taking the time to make the right play, and that’s a huge thing for us. It’s important to be patient and to make the right play.”

No Nick

Junior guard Nick Emery will not play in Wednesday’s exhibition, nor will he be eligible immediately to start the season at 7 p.m. Saturday against Mississippi Valley State.

The Cougars are still waiting to hear from the NCAA about Emery’s case involving alleged improper benefits that reportedly involved the use of a car, concert tickets and a trip to Disneyland.

Rose has not had any direct contact with the NCAA, but said it’s been “part of the plan” to sit Emery until the country’s governing body of college athletics alerts the school’s compliance office with a plan moving forward.

“I wanted to get ready for our Saturday game. There’s no reason to play a guy that is not going to play,” Rose said. “They haven’t told me, but (the NCAA) isn’t communicating with me. I’m just waiting to hear from our compliance people and the administration.”

Emery started but played just four minutes with one rebound before exiting the 76-62 win over Westminster with an illness. He had two points and two turnovers in 18 minutes against New Mexico.

Shaw out

Meanwhile, more injury news hit the BYU basketball team Tuesday.

Braiden Shaw will not play through the weekend due to an ankle injury. Rose didn’t give a timetable for his return, but said the 6-foot-9 junior from Eagle, Idaho, will be out “for at least this week.”

Shaw averaged 1.4 points and 1.9 rebounds off the bench in 2016-17, and had two points, a rebound and an assist in eight minutes in the Cougars’ home exhibition win over Westminster.

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