BYU’s Yoeli Childs Receives National Praise From College Hoops Insider

PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball senior forward Yoeli Childs shocked the college basketball world last week when he announced he was returning for his senior year to play for the Cougars.

Now that Childs is back with BYU, the former Bingham High star should start to receive the national recognition that has eluded his career to this point.

NCAA.com’s Andy Katz put out a piece ranking the top 11 candidates for the Julius Erving Award next year in college hoops which is awarded to the top small forward in the sport and Childs made Katz’ list.

Top #ErvingAward Candidates from @TheAndyKatz:

1. Jordan Nwora
2. Yoeli Childs
3. Josh Langford
4. Naji Marshall
5. Tres Tinkle
6. Scottie Lewis
7. Anthony Lamb
8. Corey Kispert
9. Nojel Eastern
10. Rex Pflueger
11. Xavier Sneed

14 more:
👉 https://t.co/BbXs8GJZw3 pic.twitter.com/yaDvmxrvf6

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) June 5, 2019

Katz had this to say on Childs: “Childs doesn’t get the national attention he deserves. Maybe he will now. New coach Mark Pope has a tremendous anchor for his first season in Provo.”

Having Childs as an anchor in Pope’s first season has suddenly created optimism that the Cougars could get back to the NCAA Tournament.  Before the return of Childs and the addition of graduate transfer Jake Toolson, there was a sense of wondering what would be realistic expectations for BYU in Pope’s first year.  Now expectations are higher and rightfully so with one of the best small forwards in the country next season who averaged 21 points and nine rebounds a season ago.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday’s from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.