Daily Herald sports writers Darnell Dickson and Jared Lloyd give their opinions on the hot BYU sports topics this week:

1. What’s the biggest positive to new BYU men’s basketball coach Kevin Young hiring Chris Burgess as an assistant? And while we’re at it, why did Burgess make what some would consider a lateral move from Utah?

DICKSON: My biggest concern for Young is recruiting. He certainly has a great resume and can get the attention of plenty of recruits, but bringing the right guys to Provo is really, really important.

It’s one thing to have an intellectual knowledge of recruiting under the Honor Code. It’s quite another to have practical experience in recruiting to BYU with the Honor Code in mind.

That’s where Burgess comes in. He was on Mark Pope’s staff for three years and understands what recruiting to BYU means in the real world. Burgess said the Cougars want to own the state of Utah and that’s great, but his experience recruiting to BYU nationally will be key.

As for why Burgess came to BYU, he said there were multiple reasons. Working with Young (who was the top assistant in the NBA) is a big one and so is the culture of BYU in terms of a work environment.

During his interview with BYU Sports Nation, Burgess also alluded to the commitment of fans in the Big 12 to their respective programs. Utah certainly didn’t have that (as noted by their lack of attendance in the Huntsman Center) and I think that probably played a pretty big part as well.

Plus, I’m sure he got a nice bump in salary, since BYU seems to be more amenable to playing their coaches better.

LLOYD: Darnell touched on Burgess’s familiarity with recruiting at BYU and I agree that is a significant benefit that he brings. But I think he brings more to the table.

He is a veteran assistant coach now who has been around the new world of college athletics, thus becoming a resource that Kevin Young needs as he familiarizes himself with the requirements.

Burgess is also excellent at training post players, something that the Cougars need to have in their arsenal as they face opponents with a lot of size in the Big 12. I think he brings other elements to coaching the fundamentals that will make a difference.

As for why Burgess chose to return to BYU, I think he did enjoy his time in Provo previously but there came a time to move on. So many factors go into these decisions on both ends (the coach and the school) that it’s hard to pick just one or two.

I’d be surprised if money wasn’t part of the equation, as well as what Burgess views as a better opportunity to improve.

2. Young also hired Doug Stewart as chief of staff. What the heck does a chief of staff do, anyway?

LLOYD: While I have yet to get into the details of such a position, I suspect it’s generally pretty straightforward. The chief of staff has the task of making sure everyone of the coaches and staff members are doing what they need to be doing.

Being a head coach at the major college level has a lot more layers and demands than are often readily apparent. Not only do they need to work with the players on fundamentals and game planning, but they need to take care of fundraising and meeting with donors and all the administrative details.

I suspect that the role of associate head coach is intended to aid with that on the coaching side, while the chief of staff job is to aid with that with all the other aspects of the program.

DICKSON: Here’s the best definition I can find for chief of staff in basketball: “A Chief of Staff serves as a liaison of data, facts, and potential consequences so that the head coach can make effective and confident decision making and strategic planning for the team and the organization as a whole.”

Not sure that helps a lot, but I do know that the transfer portal and NIL have complicated things for college head coaches. Having a chief of staff seems like the best way to keep everything organized and not let things fall through the cracks.

When we get another chance to chat with Young, we’ll ask him to clarify what the chief of staff will be doing.

3. What do you think of the roster third-year BYU women’s basketball coach Amber Whiting is building?

DICKSON: It’s certainly going to be taller: All six additions (so far) are 6-feet or better. I’m sure Whiting noticed the overall size the Cougars faced in the Big 12 and is trying to form a roster to compete there. Even the guards she’s has recruited are 6-feet or taller.

The biggest question about the roster is how to replace the production of departed senior Lauren Gustin, who averaged 16.1 points and 16.7 rebounds per game last season. It will probably have to be a group effort because Gustin was a once-in-a-generation player.

The Cougars will also have to apply the group mentality to 3-point shooting, where top freshman Kailey Woolston is leaving to serve a church mission after finishing second in the country (46%) in accuracy.

Whiting is bringing in three players with collegiate experience from the portal: Hattie Ogden from Buffalo, Marya Hudgins from Santa Clara and Kemery Martin from Cal, and that’s a great move.

Of the freshmen, I think Lone Peak’s Sarah Bartholomew could be a sleeper. She’s 6-foot-3 and kind of raw offensively, but she’s a really good athlete who is playing lacrosse for the Knights this spring. She can really move and will be a terrific defender for the Cougars.

LLOYD: Whiting is still looking to get everything clicking and with this being her third year, there is some urgency to show some progress. Last season the Cougars ended up being hurt by the injury to Arielle Mackey-Williams and the departure of Nani Falatea, but those can’t be seen as excuses moving forward.

At least the attrition so far this year was somewhat expected. Lauren Gustin is out of eligibility and I assume Kailey Woolston informed Whiting of her plans prior to getting her mission call.

Will the additions fill those voids? Probably not individually, but BYU needs them to do it collectively. If the players who have joined the program can come together with the returners and be more physical while taking care of the ball, the Cougars could make a big leap forward next season.

4. Looking ahead (our favorite thing to do) which BYU football player has the best chance at being chosen for the NFL Draft in 2025?

LLOYD: You look at recent drafts and you have to say that the smart money is on BYU offensive linemen. With Brady Christensen, Blake Freeland and Kingsley Suamataia all being selected in recent years, it’s clearly the unit that has gotten the most attention of the pros.

This year that should be good news for Connor Pay, Caleb Etienne and Brayden Keim, all of whom will be seniors with extensive playing experience. If TJ Woods can get this group to elevate their performance, then that trio could be the next Cougars drafted.

I think Pay has the best shot, but don’t be shocked if Etienne’s stock rises with a good season. At 6-foot-8, 315 pounds, Etienne has a big frame and long arms, both of which NFL teams seem to value highly.

DICKSON: I’ll pick one on offense and one on defense. I like what Connor Pay can offer as a center in the NFL, especially because of how smart he handles the position. He also is a straight shooter when it comes to answering questions so I think he’ll make an impression during the interview portions with NFL scouts and general managers.

On defense, I know a lot of folks like defensive end Tyler Batty but I’m still waiting for him to have a breakout season. I think he has the ability but I want to see more production from him, especially in the pass rush. So I’ll say Ben Bywater is a guy who could, if healthy, turn some heads at next year’s combine.

5. How much impact do you think former Skyridge quarterback McCae Hillstead can have on the BYU football program?

DICKSON: Hillstead fits Aaron Roderick’s offense pretty well because he can sling it and can move around well outside the pocket. I think he throws well on the run and really understands how to fit the ball where it needs to go. Right away I see him challenging for the backup role once he gets into camp.

While many of the BYU quarterbacks have college experience (including Hillstead) there is a possibility that the Cougars may need two or three quarterbacks to get through the Big 12 season. If that’s the case, Hillstead could be an impact player sooner than you think.

I still believe its Jake Retzlaff’s job to lose, but Hillstead will show up and compete for sure.

LLOYD: It all comes down to how quickly Hillstead can get acclimated to BYU’s offensive system. Everyone looks at the physical tools and past successes in high school or college and has big expectations, but the reality is those things have to be able to incorporated in what the Cougars are trying to do.

BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and the entire team can’t afford to mess around. That may mean that there will be harsh decisions regarding playing time as the Cougars seek to find the right fit.

Maybe Hillstead is that guy and, when he is healthy, I’ve seen him be incredibly dynamic. But he has a tough road ahead and he’s well behind Jake Retzlaff and Gerry Bohanon.

I think he will be fun to watch develop but I don’t know if I expect to see him on the field this year, barring a rash of injuries.

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