BYU Basketball Lands Recruit From Kanye West’s Donda Academy
May 13, 2022, 12:42 PM | Updated: 12:55 pm
PROVO, UT - MARCH 19: Mark Pope head coach of the Brigham Young Cougars questions an officials call during the second half of their second round NIT game against the Northern Iowa Panthers March 19, 2022 at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball coach Mark Pope always has an ace or two up his sleeve. The fourth-year head coach landed a commitment on Friday from a prospect playing at the prep academy run by artist Kanye West.
I want to thank my family, friends, coaches, and trainers who have invested in me. Most importantly, I want to thank God for all he is done in my life.
Excited for what the future holds!
CougNation: Let’s get it! 💙🤍#ao1 #committed #signed pic.twitter.com/gnEiAhQOw9— Braeden Moore (@braeden_moore_) May 13, 2022
That player is 6-foot-8 forward, Braeden Moore. Moore announced on social media his commitment to BYU, then shortly after the announced commitment, his letter of intent was signed and delivered to BYU hoops.
Moore concluded his prep career at West’ Donda Academy in Simi Valley, California. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Moore received scholarship offers from Kansas, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Auburn, Houston, and others.
Donda Academy’s Braedon Moore tells @Stockrisers he’s headed to BYU to play for Mark Pope. High-level scorer who had 15+ scholarship offers — very underrated snag for the Cougs.
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) May 13, 2022
Moore scored more than 2,000 points during his prep career and was a finalist for Mr. Tennessee during his junior season in the 2020-21 campaign.
Kanye West’s Donda Academy opened at the beginning of this school year. It’s a prep institution from kindergarten to 12th grade. The Donda Academy basketball team that Moore was part of featured heralded recruits such as five-stars JJ Taylor (2023) and Jahki Howard (2024).
Moore will be a true freshman when he arrives at BYU this fall for the 2022-23 season. With the addition of Moore, BYU now has two scholarship spots remaining. BYU recently hosted Eastern Michigan center Mo Njie and UMKC forward Josiah Allick. If BYU can land those two players, that would complete BYU’s 2022-23 roster, barring any other movement this off-season.
Moore joins Coastal Carolina guard Rudi Williams as the two new additions playing this upcoming season for Mark Pope’s program. BYU also signed heralded four-star guard Collin Chandler last November. Chandler plans to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before enrolling at BYU in 2024.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
