After a relatively successful regular season performance, the BYU Cougars were knocked out of the first round of the 2026 March Madness following a 79-71 loss to the Texas Longhorns, ending their D1 run prematurely.
This March Madness setback combined with the fact that BYU’s star forward AJ Dybantsa is all touted to be a No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft later this year, head coach Kevin Young is now tasked with finding an apt replacement for the prodigal freshman this recruiting season.
With a total of five signings this year already, it looks like the Utah-based program is actively trying to add a sixth high-profile name to their roster ahead of the upcoming CBB season.
The BYU Basketball Recruitment composite reports that the Cougars have shown interest in signing French power forward Zacharie Perrin. The 6’10” Grandfontaine native has reportedly been reached out to by BYU despite being a part of the Illinois Fighting Illini since 2023.
While it looks like the deal is still in its nascent stages, it won’t come as a surprise if Perrin makes a move to BYU soon, considering how he is yet to feature on court for the Illinois-based program.
Before enrolling for the Fighting Illini, Zacharie also had offers from many high-profile programs like Texas, Memphis, UCLA, BYU, and Florida back in 2022.
Five-Star SF Bruce Branch III Headlines BYU’s 2026 Recruits
While it remains to be seen if Zacharie Perrin’s move to Utah actualizes anytime soon, BYU head coach Kevin Young has already started to prepare for the post-AJ Dybantsa era with a few high-ceiling prospects this coming season.
SF Bruce Branch III is already making waves in the recruitment pool this year, with the five-star prospect occupying the sixth spot in SC Next’s top 100 recruits list while also garnering an overall grade rating of 94.
Joining Bruce is another high-profile prospect in the form of four-star SF Dean Rueckert of Utah. If BYU are to better their postseason record in the upcoming campaign, the forward duo of Branch and Reuckert would have to wreak havoc on court along with other recruits like SG KJ Perry, C Will Openshaw, and C Abdullah Ahmed.
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