Provo • BYU’s best player from the 2017-18 basketball season, rising senior guard Elijah Bryant, announced last week that he will forgo his final year of eligibility, hire an agent and pursue his childhood dream of playing professional basketball.
Bryant’s decision may have surprised some fans and casual observers, but not BYU’s coaches, who were genuinely taken aback last spring when their best player from the 2016-17 season, rising junior forward Eric Mika, left his name in the NBA draft. Mika went undrafted and is now playing professionally in Italy.
Bryant’s departure is less of a surprise because the Georgia native is 23, has graduated, and has been concerned for months about the wear and tear another college season will put on his body, especially his knees.