When BYU Cougars star Yoeli Childs declared for the 2019 NBA draft in late March, it was widely assumed he would not return to school.
Even if he didn't make the NBA, many thought he'd begin a professional career somewhere rather than play his final season of eligibility with the Cougars, especially since he hired an agent to help him through the predraft process.
But less than three hours before the deadline to remove his name from the draft and maintain collegiate eligibility, Childs posted a video on Twitter Wednesday night saying he will return for his senior campaign.
"Cougar Nation, I want to let you guys know I'm coming back for my senior year. Let's make some magic happen," he said in the video.
https://twitter.com/yochilds22/status/1133902904820097024
Since Mark Pope was hired to replace Dave Rose in leading the program a short time after Childs declared for the draft, the new coach has indicated multiple times that he was working to see if Childs would be willing to return. After Childs posted his video, Pope tweeted a video of some of his assistants celebrating.
https://twitter.com/CoachMarkPope/status/1133907949519233024
Even two weeks ago, it appeared Pope was preparing for Childs to depart, as he told reporters on March 16, "He's been really straightforward with me since the first day that I took the job that he's really committed to pursuing this and figuring things out. I'm excited for him to go through this process and see where it takes him."
Over the last few weeks, the 6-foot-8, 225-pound Childs had participated in a predraft workout with the Sacramento Kings, and also reportedly had a workout with the Memphis Grizzlies. It marked the second time he has done so during his collegiate career, as he went through the predraft process following his sophomore season before returning to Provo.
In Childs, the former Bingham High School star, BYU will be getting back a First Team All-West Coast Conference player and its leading scorer and rebounder from last season. During the 2018-2019 campaign, Childs averaged 21.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and exactly one block and one steal per contest.
With Childs and fellow rising senior TJ Haws, the Cougars will return their two players who averaged double figures in scoring last season as BYU finished tied for second in the WCC with an 11-5 conference record and a 19-13 mark overall, but did not play in a postseason tournament for the first time since 2004.
The bulk of the rotation is expected to return for the 2019-20 season except for Jahshire Hardnett and Rylan Bergersen, who will both be transferring. Numerous players have transferred into the program from Pope's former program, Utah Valley, but will not be eligible this coming season because of transfer rules.
from Deseret News http://bit.ly/2EIBO0j
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