PROVO, Utah – BYU sophomore forward Gavin Baxter made his season debut Saturday night against the San Francisco Dons. Baxter checked in at the 4:16 mark of the first half with BYU up by 14 points over the Dons.

Fans in attendance at the Marriott Center gave Baxter a standing ovation when he checked into the game.

#BYU forward Gavin Baxter checks in for the first time this season.#BYUhoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/nUrFcC7u8w

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 9, 2020

A 6-9 forward sophomore forward Baxter has been sidelined the past four months due to a shoulder injury he suffered in a training camp practice before the season started.

#BYU forward Gavin Baxter (@gbax25) getting ready for his season debut of his sophomore campaign.

Baxter has been out with a shoulder injury.#BYUhoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/UEuOUPZ0bz

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 9, 2020

Baxter teased the masses on social media that if he received “99 likes” on his tweet to BYU’s student section The ROC, he would play against the Dons. Guess we need to determine injury statuses going forward on how many likes players receive on their social media accounts.

Once a top-100 recruit out of Timpview High School, Baxter averaged 4.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in 30 games played, with eight of those coming in the starting lineup.

Re: Gavin Baxter (shoulder), BYU head coach Mark Pope tells me "the plan is to put him in the game tonight…he wants it."

On Jake Toolson (ankle): "He's doing good…a little bit better yesterday."

More from Coach Pope in our radio pregame interview at the bottom of the hour.

— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) February 9, 2020

Baxter was cleared by his doctors to play this past Monday and his first practice since training camp took place the following day.

With three minutes left in regulation during BYU’s win in their last game at Portland, Baxter was at the scorer’s table ready to check-in, but coach Mark Pope waved him off to go back to the bench.

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