4-Star Forward Kanon Catchings Commits to BYU

BYU landed a huge piece for next year’s roster as 2024 4-star forward Kanon Catchings committed to BYU. The former Purdue signee and Indiana native is ranked a top 40 prospect by 247 Sports and was recently released from his National Letter of Intent by the Boilermakers. He chose BYU over other finalists NC State and Florida State.

The 6-foot-9 forward played for Overtime Elite in Atlanta his senior year where he was coached by Tim Fanning, one of BYU’s assistant coaches. Fanning quickly connected with Catchings as soon as he was released from his NLI.

Catchings can play either the 3 or the 4 and will have a chance to start at BYU year one. He is a high level shot maker that can make contested shots and create his own shot off the bounce. During his one season at Overtime Elite he averaged 14.4 points and shot 55% from the field and 36% from three. Catchings can score from all levels at the floor and can stretch the defense with his ability to knockdown outside shots.

Kanon is the highest rated recruit BYU has ever signed, according to 247’s composite rankings (Egor Demin doesn’t have a ranking yet). Catchings has NBA upside and could potentially be a one-and-done player. ESPN mocked him to go #22 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Catchings’ aunt is WNBA Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings and his mom, Tauja, was an All-Conference player at Illinois and played briefly in the WNBA.

Catchings will likely play both forward spots at BYU, although BYU has a greater need at the 4. Catchings will need to get stronger and could struggle with some of the physicality he’ll see in the Big 12, but he would fit right in as a stretch four that is a shot creator and offers great positional size and length when he plays the three. Catchings raises the ceiling for this BYU team and gives Kevin Young a talented scorer that can go out a get a bucket on his own, something BYU lacked at times last season.

Thinking bigger picture, Kanon’s signing could be transformational for BYU. Kevin Young is looking to build a NBA pipeline in Provo, but he needs to put guys in the NBA for the pitch to resonate. Demin and Catchings are surefire NBA prospects, and the potential of both of them being first round picks in the 2025 NBA draft would be massive for BYU’s future recruiting efforts.

You can watch highlights of Kanon below.