After batting .500 in the NBA Draft, BYU is in position to hit another home run this season in the Mountain West.

The two-time defending regular-season champion Cougars lost 6-11 junior center Trent Plaisted to the professional ranks, but caught a break when Mountain West Co-Player of the Year Lee Cummard withdrew from draft consideration.

"He is really excited to come back and help us try to win another championship," head coach Dave Rose said. "He had a terrific junior year and I expect that he will have a great senior season and be in good position for next year's NBA Draft."

Cummard, a 6-7 swingman who ranked in the Top 10 in the league in nine categories, has helped BYU put together three consecutive 20-win seasons with back-to-back NCAA Tournament selections. Also returning are sophomore guard Jimmer Fredette and junior sniper Jonathan Tavernari, who played for Brazil in an Olympic qualifying tournament in Athens this summer.

Newcomers include two players returning from their two-year church missions. Guard Jackson Emery played in 28 games as a freshman in 2005-06. Forward Noah Hartsock was the Oklahoma Class 6A Player of the Year in 2005-06 when he averaged 27.6 points per game at Bartlesville High.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.