Reader comments
Dick Harmon: Future looks bright for BYU basketball recruit

Go Charles | 7:40 a.m. May 6, 2008

Congratulation Charles. You have worked hard and it is paying off. Keep up the great attitude and work ethic at the next level. The sky is the limit for you and the Cougars. You are a great young man.

Marky | 9:08 a.m. May 6, 2008

Sounds like another quality person has joined the Cougar basketball team. It's always a good thing when athletes have sterling characters since they become role models for many young people.

Next Season | 9:27 a.m. May 6, 2008

With recruits like this combined with all the experience we have potentially have comming back, if Plaisted and Cummard return, next season's squad will undoubtedly be the most talented team we have EVER had. We really should be a top ten team and Sweet 16 contender if everyone is back.

Comments continue below

Melissa | 10:29 a.m. May 6, 2008

I think we will have to get some season tickets! Welcome Charles!

Anonymous | 10:50 a.m. May 6, 2008

"next season" ya we should be up there but I am still waiting for BYU to win those big games (UNC), and beat unranked Wake Forest, and get past the first round.. Doing that is what qualifies you to be a legit top ten team.

Re: Next Season | 11:53 a.m. May 6, 2008

IF Cummard and Plaisted return? Haha. You mean, WHEN they realize they don't have even half of what it takes to be in the NBA. They are going to be embarassed and regret even doing that. Stick with your team through your senior seasons and help them actually get past a 1st round NCAA tournament game. This team has come together and been great in the MWC but don't get all hotty totty and think they are ready for the NBA. Weight romm Cummard, and Free throws Plaistad.

Plaised and Cummard | 1:48 p.m. May 6, 2008

There is a real chance both may not come back. Plaisted does not have an NBA offense. But a team may take him in the second round in hopes his offense will catch up with his NBA athleticism. Even if he doesn't stick more than a year he will make it overseas. Cummard won't even go in the second but he could have a nice career overseas. Both have given a lot to the Y, both will complete or are a few classes away from graduation. And both could make some decent money overseas - even more so after some NBA camp exposure they are getting right now. I'm not sure with the situation they are in I wouldn't advise a nice overseas contract if they were my sons. Would a nice senior season make there pro potential any better next season? Plaisted maybe but Cummard is probably is as good and highly regarded as he is going to get.

BlueCoug | 1:50 p.m. May 6, 2008

Welcome Charles. Sounds like you have the talent and work ethic to be the next MWC freshman of the year.

To all the jealous basketball playing wanabes: I think it's great that Cummard and Plaisted have enough confidence in themselves that they're testing the NBA waters before their senior years.

To Lee and Trent: If things work out for one or both of you in the NBA, then good luck and thanks for the memories. If you simply get a look see from the NBA scouts and then decide to return to BYU for an outstanding senior season, that's great too.

Bob | 2:04 p.m. May 6, 2008

I think you mean "hoity toity," don't you? Hotty Totty would imply that Plaisted and Cummard are acting pre-schoolers who think they are really good looking.

Tanner | 2:18 p.m. May 6, 2008

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Plaisted and Cummard testing to see where they stand and to see what they can improve on. Charles will get his chance too when he lives up to his potential.

Menny | 2:53 p.m. May 6, 2008

Good luck beating UNLV...they have some meat in the post this year to go along with the athletes that so thoroughly worked the COUGS over last year. They have had some 7 footer from Cameroon who was a 4 star recruit from last year as well as a couple of 6-10 athletes who will get some time in the middle instead of some 6-7 guy defending the post.

I hope Charles does well though I don't expect it cause Stew didn't want him. Good luck.

donquixoteinutah | 3:30 p.m. May 6, 2008

I hope this recruit does well but it's unfortunate that BYU doesn't know how to interact with non-european minorities. So he'll probably feel ostracized just like the rest of the minority groups in BYU.

BillyBob | 3:43 p.m. May 6, 2008

So why did USU pass on Abouo?

To Donquixoteinutah | 4:21 p.m. May 6, 2008

BYU? I've never been at a more diverse school in my life where people talk so many different languages, have lived in so many different countries, and have an appreciation for cultures all around the world. Everyday I heard people speaking different languages. I lived with roomates from Mexico, Brazil, Norway, and when married was close friends with people from Pakistan, and China. I am so grateful for the wonderful cultural experience BYU was. Each of these friends were welcomed at BYU, and had a very enjoyable experience.

PacoTaco | 8:28 p.m. May 6, 2008

So BYU is now picking up Utah State rejects. That sounds about right. Stew owns the state of Utah when it comes to college basketball. I know BYU fans all sit in their ivory tower and think that its impossible that anyone is better than them but it's true. The top bball program in this state is easily USU. BYU is the little brother, picking up the Aggies' scraps.

JonnyJoseph | 8:32 p.m. May 6, 2008

BYU now recruits USU rejects? Shhhhhh.. don't tell BYU fans.

Menny | 9:23 p.m. May 6, 2008

Charles is going to have to be superman to overcome the quickness and intensity of UNLV. That has been the undoing of the COUGS both of the last two years and has seemingly carried over into the tournament.

Historically, BYU has not been very athletic and so when the intensity gets turned up for the NCAA tournamnet they seem to struggle to keep up.

Watch what Beas Hamga does to Plaisted in Provo this year...yikes.

Re: PacoTaco | 9:50 p.m. May 6, 2008

Oh Taco guy. All I can say is bless your heart.

No mission plans? | 10:00 p.m. May 6, 2008

I know serving a mission is a personal decision, but I found it interesting and a glaring omission that it was not mentioned whether Abuou will be serving a mission before he starts playing for BYU. I hope that Coach Rose is not putting in these young kids' heads that a mission is of secondary importance to playing hoops for BYU. But it seems this might be the case, as the recent trend has been for BYU's best to either forego the mission entirely or else do the 4 month mission. Abuou is from a very active LDS family, and in high school had plans of a mission. I hope that the thought of "big time" ball at BYU hasn't ruined those plans. These kids need to go serve the Lord then come to BYU, they'll do much better as missionaries in the field than on the court.

basketball | 10:55 p.m. May 6, 2008

I didn't even know Utah State had a basketball team! I guess I have been busy with things that really matter, like real life. Am I missing something really important here?

PacoTaco | 12:06 a.m. May 7, 2008

Well you wouldn't have known Utah State had a basketball team as all of you in Happy Valley are all hoisted up in your own petard. Further, you wouldn't know USU had a team because your boy pig nose Dave Rose has been doing all that he can to avoid playing them. If you knew anything about basketball in the state of Utah you would know all of the top local recruits have been heading North to Logan.

re basketball | 12:32 a.m. May 7, 2008

That shows your knowledge of basketball in the state of Utah. USU is easily the most succesful program in the state over the past 10 years. You are missing something because you think the world revolves around BYU, which is typical.

JOE | 7:38 a.m. May 7, 2008

Until BYU gets a decent PG that is quick enough to guard the elite schools guards there is no hope for BYU to get to the Sweet 16

BYU v USU Reality | 8:47 a.m. May 7, 2008

I am a huge Cougar fan but there is no doubt we have somehow missed on several in-state players and others like Carrol who went to USU and could have done very well at the Y. USU has had an extremely successful basketball program and so has the Y. If we played them every season we could probably expect a 50-50 record over the long run. The problem is that a loss to the Aggies hurts the Y more than a loss to the Y hurts the Aggies in the eyes of the NCAA. That is not a dig to the Aggies but a reality of how the NCAA sees the MWC v the WAC in general. BYU would rather fill that slot with a UNC or MSU and lose than lose to USU - which we would do at least half of the time.

Uh....... | 10:49 a.m. May 7, 2008

Does one and done ring a bell?

to Mission Plans? | 11:39 a.m. May 7, 2008

to Mission Plans? Don't make a comment like "Abouo is from a very active LDS family if you are just making stuff up. I know for a fact that Abouo's family is less active. Abouo is a great kid and has done well for himself. Get a clue on life before you make false comments.

get a clue paco taco | 11:42 a.m. May 7, 2008

USU reject? Abouo is as good of athlete as any USU has and better than most. With a year at Brewster Prep he has improved his skills and matured as a person. The Aggies would be lucky to get a player like Abouo. What makes you think Abouo even wanted to go to USU. Just because he lived in Logan? Get a clue Mr. Misinformed.

Anonymous | 12:30 p.m. May 7, 2008

Mr.Misinformed? You could only hope to be so misinformed. Charles worked out with the USU team during the summers he wanted nothing more than to play at USU. Stew looked at him very thoroughly and didn't take him because USU has much better athletes and players than him. No big D1 schools besides BYU made him an offer. That should tell you all something.

Blissfully ignorant | 1:50 p.m. May 7, 2008

Ahh..the bubble is still up and running in Happy Valley I see. Abouo wanted to be an Aggie in the worst way, he played pick up games with the team for months and was evaluated by Stew and his crew. The fact is that USU already has more talented players and never even offered him. Charles' options were SUU or VCU...those were his only offers on the table until Rose decided he would take a chance. Rose is just throwing darts in the dark at this point, trying to get back at Stew and USU for a long list of players that have decided they wanted to serve missions and then play for the best program in the state. Jaycee was only the beginning, you can add Wilkinson, Wesley, Newbold, and Jardine to the list with more to come. There's several more years of complaining down south to be had about how all these guys aren't playing for BYU. Abouo had issues surrounding him about his coachability and attitude as well, things that most coaches aren't willing to overlook. He has skills though so you can't blame Rose for taking a shot.

Anonymous | 12:38 p.m. May 8, 2008

wow these comments are so funny to listen to first of all I love having people call utah county happy valley!!! have you ever been to Logan that defines that word. and secondly both have great programs but the fact of the matter is that neither team has enough talent to make it to the sweet 16 because nither teams have the speed or depth. I love both schools and have watched both of them for years but as much as it hurts to say it neither have the talent to make it big....

USU? | 2:06 p.m. May 8, 2008

I love it when USU fans get on the BYU chats to dis BYU and talk up their team like it's some elite program. The Aggies didn't even make the NCAA tournament last year, or the year before. How well did you do in the NIT? Hmmm... one and done. Granted, BYU didn't win a game either, but at least they made it to the NCAA tournament. In fact, BYU has been to the tournament more times in the past 6 years than USU has. The only reason why USU has more wins in the past 6 years is because they play in a much weaker conference and consistently have a very weak non-conference strength of schedule. Provo HS would have about the same number of wins with USU's schedule. Bottom line is that BYU has been successful over the past few years and the article was about a new potentially good BYU recruit. USU fans, go back to your own forums that only you care about. No one but the 5 USU fans in Logan care about your team anyways. Best of luck Abuou in your BYU career.

Carroll | 11:27 p.m. May 8, 2008

Reading about some of Carroll's amazing stats during his final season the author mentioned that BYU had to make a choice between Murdock and Carroll. Since he was from Wyoming they felt he didn't play as strong a competition level and chose Murdock. BIG mistake on BYU's part - but for the uniformed USU fans, it was BYU's choice, not the fact that the aggies beat them out for Carroll's services.

geezer | 9:31 a.m. May 10, 2008

RE: Paco Taco
You must enjoy taco's with a little LSD.
Who went to the NCAA's and who stayed in polluted Logan? Please don't give me any nonsense on how the experts got it all wrong. I think it's wonderful you can live in the past. Don't fret too much, that exciting football team of yours is just a few months away from strutting its stuff.

Re: Carroll | 2:10 p.m. May 11, 2008

What are you talking about? Where did you hear that? It has been more than documented by several coaches and the Carroll's themselves that BYU never recruited Jaycee. USU only had to beat out Wyoming, his father is an alum and Jaycee grew up idolizing Marcus Bailey. Coach McLain dropped the ball....and Stew picked it up. BYU was never in the picture no matter how much they would like to make it up that they were. How long will it be before we hear stories about how BYU didn't choose Tyler Newbold from Payson or Brady Jardine as the Idaho State Player of the year too?

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