‘Solid Chance’ BYU Forward Baxter Won’t Play This Season

SALT LAKE CITY – BYU basketball head coach Mark Pope spoke at West Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Media Day on Thursday and discussed the health of Cougar forward Gavin Baxter.

Earlier this week, KSL Sports reported that Baxter suffered a shoulder injury after getting tangled up with a teammate during two-a-days at BYU basketball practice. After suffering the injury KSL Sports also reported that Baxter was consulting with three doctors to get differing opinions on the chances of him returning to the court this season.

Pope isn’t optimistic about the prospects of Baxter returning to play this season. The Cougars new head man said the following at the West Coast Conference Tip-Off.

Pope on Gavin Baxter: "Looks like right now there's a solid chance that we're not going to see that until a year from now. He tore a labrum. While we're still seeing some experts, I think there's some solid chance he'll have to have that repaired right now, we'll miss him." #BYU

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 3, 2019

“Gavin Baxter did come on strong (last year). He’s an extraordinarily long and gifted athlete. He can get end to end as fast as anybody. Looks like right now, there’s a solid chance we’re not going to see that until a year from now,” said Pope. “He tore a labrum and while we’re still seeing some experts I think there’s some solid chance that he’ll have to have that repaired right now. So we’ll miss him. So the other guys are going to have to step up.”

Losing Baxter is a major blow to BYU’s chances of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2015 season.

As a true freshman, Baxter averaged 4.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and shot 64-percent from the field a season ago. With Yoeli Childs suspended the first nine games due to a violation of NCAA rules, Baxter was expected to have a huge role in BYU’s rotation.

Snapshot at BYU Basketball’s depth without Baxter

Without Gavin Baxter for potentially the entire 2019-20 season, BYU is currently down to eight scholarship players that are expected to be available on opening night against Cal State Fullerton. BYU will be without Baxter, Childs due to suspension, and possibly without forward Zac Seljaas who’s still recovering from a foot injury. BYU coaches have been optimistic about Seljaas being available on opening night, but the senior forward from Bountiful has yet to practice in camp.

The Cougars are still waiting on waiver decisions for transfers Alex Barcello from Arizona and Richard Harward from Utah Valley University. Both of those players are currently on scholarship and would boost the Cougars’ depth that will be available to open the season if they receive a waiver.

Preferred walk-ons Colby Leifson, a returned missionary from Georgia and junior college transfer Blaze Nield will factor into the rotation as well.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.