Calling it the "hardest decision I have had to make in my life," junior college basketball star Stephen Rogers picked BYU over Utah State on Wednesday, ending a heated recruiting battle between the instate rivals for the 6-foot-8 small forward from Mesa (Ariz.) Community College.

"BYU just felt more right," Rogers said, noting that it wasn't just one thing that determined he would sign with BYU rather than USU.

"I pretty much decided Tuesday night," he said. "Then I went to the temple [Wednesday] with my parents and we talked it over a lot. Ultimately, BYU is where I wanted to be."

Rogers called BYU coach Dave Rose with the news around 5 p.m., and said the Cougar coach "was thrilled to hear it."

Then he called USU's Stew Morrill, whom he said handled the disappointment with class and respect.

"He told me to have a great career at BYU, except for the three times we play Utah State," Rogers said.

Rogers had narrowed his choices to BYU and USU in recent days, after also receiving offers from the likes of New Mexico, UC Santa Barbara, Utah and Colorado.

Rogers will have three years to play three at BYU.

As a redshirt freshman at Mesa CC this past season, he earned Arizona Community College Player of the Year honors after averaging 21.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Rogers began his college basketball career at Arizona State after serving an LDS Church mission in Cleveland. He transferred to Mesa after one season, citing differences with ASU coach Herb Sendek.

The Cougars hope Rogers can be a three-point shooting star to replace the graduating Jonathan Tavernari, although Rogers will play the small forward position more than Tavernari's old power forward spot.

At 187 pounds, Rogers said he knows he has to get in the weight room and get bigger and stronger to handle the rigors of Mountain West Conference basketball.

"I have always envisioned myself as a versatile player who can play a couple different positions, and that's what [BYU] has in mind for me, too," he said.

The recruit said he has a previously planned trip to Utah this weekend, and will sign his letter of intent with BYU then.