The BYU men’s basketball team appears to have solidified its 2022-23 roster with the addition of a smooth-shooting big man.

Detroit Mercy’s 6-foot-11 Noah Waterman has committed to play for Mark Pope and the Cougars, according to a new release from the school.

During his career at Detroit Mercy, Waterman appeared in 36 games with 29 starts averaging 9.6 points per game while shooting 49% from the floor, 44% from 3-point range and 69% from the free throw line.

Waterman is the third player Pope has added from the transfer portal, joining Coastal Carolina guard Rudi Williams and Arkansas swingman Jaxson Robinson.

BYU actually courted Waterman’s teammate, Antoine Davis, for a time this spring. But Davis opted to stay at Detroit Mercy and play for his father when a big NIL deal was brokered.

In 2021-22, Waterman saw the court in 21 games including 17 starts where he averaged 8.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three and 75.0 percent from the free throw line. He scored in double figures nine times including a 18-point performance against Northern Kentucky.

During his first season at Detroit Mercy, he shot 52.8 percent from 3-point range for a Titan team that ranked fifth nationally in 3-point percentage. He scored in double figures eight times including a career-high 22 against Robert Morris, where he went 8-of-11 from the field and 5-of-8 from three.

Waterman played in his freshman season at Niagara where he appeared in seven including five stars. He averaged 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three.

He was a two-time Empire State Christian Athletic League MVP at Finger Lakes Christian School in Seneca Falls, N.Y. He averaged 33.9 points, 12.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.9 blocks per game as a senior.

BYU began summer workouts last week. With the addition of Waterman, the Cougars have 13 scholarship players for the 2022-23 season. BYU lost big men Caleb Lohner (Baylor) and Gavin Baxter (Utah) to the transfer portal after the conclusion of last season and was in need of some size to fill out the roster. Waterman’s shooting ability make him a candidate to fill a stretch-four position for the Cougars.

The only returning player on the roster over 6-6 is sophomore Atiki Ally Atiki (6-9).

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