Nate Pickens has wasted no time making his presence felt for BYU.
After waiting more than 18 months from the time he first committed to the Cougars, the senior guard finally got the kind of night he had been building toward on Tuesday against Queens. Pickens scored 15 points, knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with the best plus/minus on the team at +23 in just 19 minutes off the bench.
That was 19 more minutes than he played all of last season, when an ankle injury kept him out for the entire 2025-26 campaign.
Now healthy, Pickens is starting to look like exactly the kind of sixth man Kevin Young envisioned. His scoring has given BYU another layer, but his value goes beyond that. Through three games, he’s averaging 7.7 points in fewer than 15 minutes per game while shooting 58% from the field and 50% from deep.
“I’m just blessed to be out here, sitting out so long from injury was tough, but I just trusted my work every day and it showed tonight,” Pickens said postgame on Tuesday. “I’m just happy for the team and myself to be just having fun and just playing with the guys finally.”
Against Queens, he also chipped in two rebounds, an assist and two steals. That activity on the defensive end is a big part of why he’s already becoming a trusted piece for the Cougars.
“I feel like ever since I’ve been in college it’s always been my thing, just hanging my hat on defense and that stuff,” Pickens said.
“(Defense) just jump-starts everything else for me, so just being a defensive anchor on the team has always been my role, I take pride in it.”
BYU did allow 82 points to Queens, but the Cougars’ defensive effort has still come a long way from where it was a year ago. Pickens’ edge and energy have helped set that tone, and his approach should keep rubbing off on the rest of the roster as BYU continues shaping its identity on that end of the floor.
Young didn’t hide how much he likes what Pickens brings.
“I’m only going to say this one time, but (Tuesday’s performance) makes you wish you would have had him last year, honestly,” Young said of Pickens. “That’s why we brought him here. He can guard guys at our level, and he can make open 3s.”
Pickens arrived in Provo after playing at UC Riverside, where he averaged 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game and hit nearly 40% of his 3-pointers. He also scored 18 points against BYU at the Marriott Center in 2024.
His return to full health has clearly changed the conversation around him. As he said during the summer, missing last season lit a fire under him, and early on, that extra motivation is showing up in a hurry.
Young said the trust is already there.
“He’s a guy that we trust,” Young said. “...
He’s solid. He’s an adult.
You can trust him, and I think he has earned the trust of his teammates as well.”
In Other News...
BYU Fans Suddenly Have A Very Uncomfortable Reason To Watch Utah
The latest College Football Playoff rankings gave the Big 12 a jolt of credibility, with Utah sitting at No. 2, BYU at No. 10, Texas Tech at No. 12 and Houston at No. 14. For BYU, the placement is a reminder that the Cougars are still very much in the mix, but also that the path ahead is crowded and shaped by what happens around them as much as what happens in Provo.
Utahs position is the one that now looms largest for BYU fans, because the Utes are in prime shape to reach the playoff if they keep winning and potentially add a Big 12 title to their resume. That creates the uncomfortable part for Cougar supporters: the conference race, the rankings and the playoff math are all tangled together, and BYUs hopes may depend on watching a rival navigate the exact finish line the Cougars want to reach themselves. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Baylor Game Plan Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Hoped
BYUs first injury report for the Baylor game gave a clearer picture of where the Cougars stand, and it was not exactly the clean bill of health fans might have wanted. Running back LJ Martin was listed as probable, while linebacker Isaiah Glasker was questionable and cornerback Evan Johnson and tight end Roger Saleapaga were doubtful. With several BYU players already having stepped into larger roles because of injuries, the report only adds to the sense that the Cougars are still managing their depth as they head into another Big 12 test.
Baylors report was shorter, with six players listed and starting defensive lineman Devonte Tezino the only notable name on it. Even so, the contrast does not make BYUs side look any simpler, especially with some injured Cougars expected to miss the game. For a team that has had to lean on next-man-up production already, the final availability picture could shape how aggressive the game plan can be once kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Is About To Get A Scoring Boost It Really Needed
BYU is set to get a welcome addition back in the rotation when Dawson Baker is expected to return for the upcoming game against Montana State. After being sidelined for nearly a year following multiple knee injuries and surgeries, Baker has finally been cleared to play, giving the Cougars a chance to add a proven scoring option they have been missing.
Bakers return matters because BYU has been looking for more punch off the bench, and his presence should help in both depth and offense. Coaches and players have been upbeat about what he can bring, and even after such a long layoff, there is real anticipation around how quickly he can settle back into a meaningful role. [Read more 🡒]