Arizona Point Guard Alex Barcello to Transfer to BYU

BYU Basketball landed its potential point guard of the future as Arizona guard Alex Barcello announced his transfer to BYU. Jake Hatch of 1280 The Zone first broke the news yesterday. Vanquish the Foe mentioned Barcello as a possibility last week after Emery announced his retirement.

Barcello comes to BYU after two years as a role player at Arizona. Barcello averaged 3.5 points per game in just under 10 minutes of action this past season as a sophomore. Coming out of high school in 2017, Barcello was the Arizona Gatorade player of the year and a consensus 4-star recruit and top 100 player. As a high school senior, Barcello averaged 24.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, three assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 55% from the field and 89% from the free throw line.

Mark Pope made recruiting transfers one of his top priorities at UVU, and he has carried that philosophy to BYU. Barcello joins Wyatt Lowell, Richard Harward and Jake Toolson as D1 transfers that Pope has brought in. Barring a waiver, Barcello will have to sit this season and then have two years of eligibility remaining.

Pope has made it clear during the offseason that BYU needs a point guard to replace TJ Haws, and Barcello will likely fill that role. Barcello had a tough time carving out a consistent role at Arizona, but he will be given every opportunity to be a starter and have a prominent role on the team. Barcello has elite-level shooting potential and the ability to be a high level player in the WCC.

BYU loses some big time talent after this season, but the program will still have a solid group in future seasons with a core of Barcello, Gavin Baxter, Connor Harding, Jesse Wade, UVU transfers Lowell and Harward and other recruits that Pope will surely bring in.