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For the 2016-17 season BYU Basketball had just two seniors on its roster. For 2017-18 there are none. So where will this year’s squad look for leadership? To Elijah Bryant and Luke Worthington, Dave Rose announced Wednesday afternoon.
Coach Rose said in naming juniors Worthington and Bryant, “Elijah and Luke are two of our most experienced players and have a great approach to the game. We’ll rely on them throughout the year to provide leadership in the locker room and on the court.”
Dave Rose comments on picking @Elijah_Bryant3 & @worthington41
— BYU Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) November 8, 2017
“Elijah & Luke are two of our most experienced players and have a great approach to the game. We’ll rely on them throughout the year to provide leadership in the locker room and on the court.”#BYUSN #BYUHOOPS #BYU
In Bryant, you’ve got a transfer in his second year at BYU — he started his career at Elon, sat out a year, then played some of last year despite knee problems. Worthington played at BYU for two seasons before leaving on an LDS mission to Chile. This year will be his first back on the court after returning home in summer.
Coach Rose has announced that juniors Elijah Bryant and Luke Worthington have been named team captains for the 2017-18 season.https://t.co/nLYVUc0ZOZ#BYUhoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/nGmP1bbzGS
— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) November 8, 2017
Though Worthington averaged less than 2 points a game in his two years at BYU, he looks to be in great shape coming off his mission and appears to be the most viable candidate to start at the center position. He has started in both exhibition games so far. And even if his numbers aren’t the most impressive, he has certainly played in enough games to make his experience credible. He has made 24 starts and appeared in 64 games.
Bryant did great work in the limited time he was able to play last year, averaging 11.7 points per game, along with 3.6 rebounds. He appears to be 100 percent healthy and a real presence in every phase of the game after two exhibition games so far this year. (Check out Elijah’s vlog for an inside look at the New Mexico exhibition game.)
BYU’s squad is comprised of one freshman, eight sophomores, and six juniors. The team plays its final exhibition game on Wednesday at 7 p.m. MST at the Marriott Center against Colorado College. That game will also be broadcast on BYUtv. The season opener will be at the Marriott Center Saturday against Mississippi Valley State -- also at 7 p.m. MST, and also on BYUtv.