Mark Pope’s History at UVU and BYU with D1 Transfers

Ever since becoming head coach at UVU in 2015 Mark Pope and his staff have been active in recruiting transfers. Mark Pope and assistant Chris Burgess were both transfers themselves, so they know the benefit that transfers can have at a program.

Pope has had success bringing in transfers, with over half of them receiving all conference honors after transferring to play for Pope at UVU or BYU. Below we rank each D1 transfer that has played under Mark Pope.

#1 Jake Toolson, UVU and BYU

Mark Pope got Toolson twice as a transfer — first at UVU and then at BYU. Toolson was the WAC player of the year as a junior before coming back to BYU as a senior and receiving First Team All-WCC Honors and becoming one of the best three-point shooters in college basketball.

#2 Alex Barcello, Arizona

Barcello struggled to find playing time his first two years at Arizona but has blossomed in two years at BYU. Barcello started as a junior before becoming the focal point for BYU as a senior and receiving First Team All-WCC Honors. Pope and staff are now trying to bring Barcello back for one more year.

#3 Kenneth Ogbe, Utah

Ogbe played three seasons at Utah before starting two seasons at UVU under Mark Pope. The 6-foot-6 wing player averaged double digits in both of his seasons at UVU and was named First Team All-WAC as a senior.

#4 Matt Haarms, Purdue

Haarms’ commitment really put Mark Pope on the map as a major factor in the transfer portal after getting the 7-foot-3 big man over Kentucky, Texas Tech and a host of other programs. Haarms was named Second Team All-WCC and the conference Defensive Player of the Year. Haarms is considering returning for one more season.

#5 Brandon Averette, Oklahoma State and UVU

Pope and company initially got Averette from Oklahoma State, but Averette had to sit out his one year at UVU when Pope was there. He played one season in Orem under Mark Madsen and earned All-WAC Honors. He came to BYU as a graduate transfer and was Second Team All-WCC.

#6 Brandon Randolph, Xavier

Randolph redshirted one season and played two seasons for UVU under Pope. Randolph averaged double digits both seasons and received All-WAC honors as a senior.

#7 Akolda Manyang, Oklahoma

The seven-foot big man only played for one season under Pope, but made the most of it by being named to the All-WAC Defensive team and averaging double digit points.

#8 Konner Frey, Utah State

Frey played at UVU in Mark Pope’s first season and was named to the WAC All-Newcomer team after averaging over 14 points per game.

#9 Isaac Neilson, BYU

Neilson followed Pope over from BYU and developed nicely in three seasons in Orem. His junior year he averaged over 9 points per game and was named to the All-WAC Defensive team.

#10 Baylee Steele, Eastern Michigan

The big man had his best season under Mark Pope, averaging 9 points and shooting just under 60% in his one season playing under Pope’s staff.

#11 Richard Harward, UVU

Harward came off the bench for BYU and averaged 6 points and 4 boards as a junior.

#12 Connor MacDougall, New Mexico

The 6-foot-9 big man had his best year in his one season at UVU, averaging over 8 points per game.

#13 Jerrelle DeBerry, Kent State

DeBerry only played the second half of his senior season, but he averaged 8 points per game in his short stint coming off the bench.

#14 Wyatt Lowell, UVU

Lowell was WAC freshman of the year under Pope but injuries derailed his time in Provo. Lowell is currently in the transfer portal.

#15 Cory Calvert, BYU

Calvert played one season at UVU after two seasons at BYU. Calvert averaged 1.3 ppg in his one season in Orem.

#16 Josh Pollard, Kansas

The Orem native was a walk-on at Kansas before transferring to UVU. He never played after leaving Kansas.

Others

Casdon Jardine, Boise State

Jardine redshirted during Pope’s last year at UVU. Jardine averaged 10 points in his one season at UVU before going to Hawaii as a grad transfer and averaging 11 points last season.

Cavit Ege Havsa, Fordham

Havsa redshirted during Pope’s last year at UVU. He played in 25 games and averaged 3 points in his one season playing for UVU under Mark Madsen.