Dean Rueckert’s Star Is Rising - and BYU’s Betting Big on His Potential
With just 3.7 seconds left on the clock and Timpview trailing American Fork by one, the ball-and the moment-found Dean Rueckert.
Double-teamed on the inbound, Rueckert slipped free, caught the pass from Mason Ford, took two quick dribbles toward the right corner, and launched a high-arcing, fadeaway three over a wall of defenders. At 6-foot-8 with a wingspan north of seven feet, Rueckert’s release point was untouchable.
The shot? Pure.
Timpview 62, American Fork 60.
“When I drew up that play, there was no fear in [Rueckert’s] eyes,” said Timpview head coach Brad Kitchen. “He’s like, ‘No.
I want the ball. I want to shoot it.
I want to have all the pressure.’”
That moment wasn’t just a game-winner-it was a statement. Rueckert isn’t just the leader of a 13-1 Timpview squad with state title aspirations. He’s also a four-star recruit and the No. 77-ranked player in the class of 2026, and he’s already committed to BYU, another major win for head coach Kevin Young in his efforts to build a pro-style program in Provo.
A Local Star with National Game
Rueckert’s physical tools jump off the page. He’s long, lean, and fluid-his frame drawing comparisons to former BYU standout Egor Demin, though with an even longer wingspan.
But it’s not just the measurables. Rueckert has a skill set that screams versatility.
He’s a three-level scorer with a smooth outside shot, creativity around the rim, and the kind of playmaking instincts that allow him to lead the state’s top 5A team in assists-all from the small forward spot.
Ask him who he models his game after, and he’ll tell you: “Kon Knueppel. Like a shooter, but also can get downhill.”
That dual-threat ability is what makes Rueckert so intriguing. He can space the floor, yes-but he’s not just a catch-and-shoot guy standing in the corner.
He can put the ball on the deck, attack closeouts, and finish through contact with a soft touch or something acrobatic that makes the highlight reel. And when the defense collapses?
He’s more than capable of making the right read and finding the open man.
Big Game, Bigger Goals
Rueckert’s breakout moment on the national scene came when Timpview faced Notre Dame High School out of California-a team led by Tyran Stokes, the No. 1-ranked player in the country. Rueckert didn’t just hold his own. He dropped 31 points and even blocked one of Stokes’ jumpers, showing he could compete with the best-and look good doing it.
“I mean, yeah, I think I can compete with anyone,” Rueckert said when asked if he sees himself among the elite prospects in the country.
That confidence is backed by production, and it’s part of what drew BYU to him-and what drew Rueckert to BYU. He’s been around the program since he was a kid, growing up on the Provo-Orem border and attending games with his grandfather, who had season tickets.
“Some of my first memories of basketball are with BYU,” Rueckert said. “Going to BYU games with my grandpa kind of inspired me to always want to go play there.”
But nostalgia wasn’t the only factor. Rueckert was also sold on Kevin Young’s vision-a pro-style system built to develop NBA-ready talent. Young’s NBA pedigree and ability to turn college players into pros resonated with Rueckert, whose ultimate goal is clear.
“My main goal is to make it to the NBA,” Rueckert said. “BYU is a great place to help me do that.”
The Next Step: Getting Stronger, Staying Aggressive
At 195 pounds, Rueckert knows the next phase of his development starts in the weight room. The physicality of college-and eventually pro-basketball demands more bulk, more strength, and more assertiveness.
“Next year, I’ll be in the weight room a lot,” he said. “Just getting stronger, getting used to playing with those older guys and also just being aggressive. You can’t really not be aggressive playing against older guys like that.”
Coach Kitchen sees the fit with BYU as seamless.
“I think he fits hand in glove with what BYU is trying to do offensively,” Kitchen said. “He’s a high-flying athlete that can really shoot the ball.
I think those are the things that Kevin Young loves. … I think he’s going to fit really good in that pro-style offense.”
Eyes on the League
The path from high school standout to NBA player is never easy. It takes more than talent-it takes work, patience, and the right system. But Kitchen believes Rueckert has all the ingredients.
“He has ambitions and dreams to make it to the league,” Kitchen said. “And I don’t doubt for a second that he doesn’t have what it takes to get to that spot. It takes some time, but I think he can be a guy that plays in the NBA someday.”
For now, Rueckert is focused on finishing strong with Timpview, chasing a state title, and preparing for the next level. But if that game-winning three is any indication, he’s not just built for the moment-he’s ready to own it.