BYU received a late addition to the transfer portal as Noah Waterman decided to enter his name. Although the portal deadline was May 1, BYU players had until May 12 due to NCAA regulations, allowing 30 days after their head coach’s departure. Mark Pope’s move to Kentucky on April 12 extended this window for BYU players. Waterman officially notified Kevin Young on Thursday night of his decision and completed the necessary paperwork over the weekend.
Standing at 6 feet 11 inches, Waterman, who received a medical redshirt during his freshman year at Niagara, granting him a sixth year of eligibility, has one year left. Should he not return to BYU, he would become the fourth scholarship player to enter the portal, alongside Marcus Adams Jr, Aly Khalifa, and Jaxson Robinson.
Waterman spent one season at Niagara and two at Detroit Mercy before joining BYU for the last two seasons. Primarily playing as a stretch four, he notably improved from his first season at BYU, averaging 9.5 points and 5.4 rebounds with a 37% shooting accuracy from three-point range. Starting in all 33 games he played, he reached double digits in scoring in 15 games.
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His departure comes as a setback for BYU; he wasn’t forced out by the staff and had intended to return until recently. Waterman was anticipated to begin as the starting power forward, with high expectations from Kevin Young. His potential to secure a significant NIL deal from a team was a primary factor in his decision to enter the portal. Sources suggest that a return to BYU remains a possibility.
