BYU just got a big piece for next year's roster, as 2024 4-star forward Kanan Catchings has committed to BYU. The former Purdue signee and Indiana native is ranked a top 40 prospect by 247 Sports and was recently released from his National Letter of Intent by the Boilermakers. He chose BYU over other finalists NC State and Florida State.
The 6-foot-9 forward played for Overtime Elite in Atlanta his senior year, where he was coached by one of BYU's assistant coaches, Tim Fanning. Fanning connected with Catchings immediately as soon as he was released from the NLI.
Catchings can play either the 3 or 4 and will have a chance to start at BYU year one. He is a high-level shot maker who can make contested shots and create his own shot off the bounce. During his one season at Overtime Elite he averaged 14.4 points and shot 55% from the field and 36% from three. Catchings can score from all levels on the floor and stretch the defense with his ability to knock down outside shots.
According to 247's composite rankings, Cannon is the highest-rated player BYU has ever signed (Egor Demin has no ranking yet). Catchings has NBA potential and could potentially be a great player. ESPN teased that he would go 22nd in the 2025 NBA Draft. Catchings has an aunt WNBA Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings and her mother, Tauja, were all-conference players at Illinois and also briefly played in the WNBA.
Catchings will likely play both forward spots at BYU, although BYU needs him more at the 4. Catchings will need to get stronger and may struggle some with the physicality he will see in the Big 12, but he would fit right in as a stretch four who is a shot creator and provides great positional size and length when he plays the three. Catchings raises the ceiling for this BYU team and gives Kevin Young a talented scorer who can get buckets on his own, something BYU lacked at times last season.
Thinking about the big picture, Cannon's signing could be transformative for BYU. Kevin Young is looking to build an NBA pipeline in Provo, but he needs to bring in guys who have been in the NBA in order for the pitch to resonate. Damin and Catchings are definitely NBA prospects, and the possibility of them both being first-round selections in the 2025 NBA Draft would be huge for BYU's future recruiting efforts.
You can check out Kanon's highlights below.