Monday night, Dean Rueckert, the No. 68 overall recruit in the national 2026 class, committed to BYU live on the CBS Sports College Basketball Channel.
The newest Cougar broke down his decision with 247Sports and it was clear to see that the Cougars making him a priority early on in the process paid off when it came time to secure a commitment.
“BYU is a special place that can help me go far,” Rueckert said. “Not just basketball but in life. Kevin Young and the rest of his staff have done a good job to make me feel valued. They can help me reach my goals to help me play profressional basketball.”
A 6-foot-8, 180-pound wing out of Provo (Utah) Timpview High who competed in Nike’s EYBL with the Utah Prospects, Rueckert completed his official visit to BYU as the month of June came to end. He valued the pedigree of the Cougars coaching staff during his time on the visit.
“BYU’s staff is huge and they have a lot of NBA and professional connections,” Rueckert said. “That is my goal. That is where I want to go and that is huge for me. I also have a great relationship with the the staff. They are easy to talk to. There is really good things there.”
With his commitment, Rueckert is Kevin Young’s first pledge in the Class of 2026. The Cougars are also prioritizing top-30 recruit and four-star guard Austin Goosby and look primed to continue the program’s unprecedented recruiting success since Young took over in the spring of 2024.
When discussing what he plans to bring to the program, Rueckert says he wants to work hard and enjoy playing in front of the BYU faithful.
“I am a hardworker who wants to win,” Rueckert said. “I am also excited to play in front of the best fanbase in the world. I know I will have fun doing that.”