Sometimes the best gets are the ones you have at home.
That was the case for Kevin Young and the BYU Cougars as junior center Keba Keita announced his return to Provo for the 2025-26 season.
Last season with the Cougars, Keita averaged 7.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while connecting on 67.3% of shots from the field. He saw action in all 35 games as a starter for the entire season.
Prior to his time at BYU, Keita spent two seasons with Utah, where he played a total of 66 games. In 2023-24, the Mali native posted 8.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
With Keita returning to BYU, the Cougars are set to return at least one of their five starters from their Sweet 16 team. They will need to replace at least two of their five starters with Mawot Mag and Trevin Knell running out of eligibility, however, the question rests with Richie Saunders and Egor Demin.
Both Demin and Saunders have flashed enough on the basketball court to consider the NBA route, but with a talented freshman like AJ Dybantsa coming in next season, a return to BYU might be in play.
