Collin Chandler wants to be a Cougar.

The state of Utah’s No. 1 basketball recruit – rated No. 28 in the country by ESPN – chose BYU on Wednesday in a ceremony at Farmington High School.

Sitting with his family and Phoenix head coach Kasey Walkenhurst, Chandler had fans in attendance count down from three. Chandler and his family then released blue smoke and revealed the BYU logo behind him.

“The more I took visits, when I went to BYU I felt like that was the spot for me,” Chandler said. “I loved the culture experience there and I want to be a part of it. I just felt like the university was going to be the best thing for my life after the ball stops bouncing.”

Chandler, a 6-foot-4 guard, led Farmington to the state 5A finals last season, scoring 23 points in a close loss to Lehi. As a junior, Chandler averaged 22.35 points, 4.62 rebounds, 2.77 assists and 1.42 steals per game. Where he really impressed, though, was this summer playing for Utah Prospects on the Adidas circuit against some of the nation’s top talent. Chandler went from No. 77 in the ESPN Top 100 to No. 28, the highest-rated recruit to choose BYU since Eric Mika back in 2013 (also 28th.)

Chandler chose BYU over Utah, Stanford, Arizona and Oregon.

“What was different about Coach (Mark) Pope was I felt like in all the conversations we had, we were on same page for my future and where I saw I was going to go,” Chandler said. “That coaching staff in general they had the most things they could teach me. That’s why BYU stood out.”

Chandler and Farmington have moved up a classification to 6A for his senior season. He plans on serving a church mission and joining the BYU program in 2024. When he enrolls, the Cougars will be playing in the Big 12 Conference.

“For sure, the Big 12 has an amazing past with a bunch of powerhouse teams,” Chandler said. “One of the biggest things is I want to play against the best and prove I can play and win at the highest level.”

Brandon Jenkins, a recruiting analyst for 24/7 Sports gave this review on their website: “Chandler is a competitive guard who always plays in attack mode. He is still a baby physically but has great length, burst, and solid skill. He beats defenders off the rip or bounce with an excellent first step. A plus athlete who is bouncy and is an exciting athletic finisher at and above the rim, Chandler thrives in transition and enjoys attacking the rim when driving lanes are available. He is a great shooter off the catch or dribble and knocks down the three-point shot with consistency. He still needs to improve his handle on the ball versus high pressure but Chandler will likely thrive in an up-tempo system with his playstyle. Chandler plans to embark on a two-year mission and will be 21 by the time he starts his freshman season. His upside is clear, immense, and due to his work ethic, it should be counted on to transform into immediate productivity once he begins his college career.”

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