As you have probably read already in The Tribune, BYU's basketball program received a commitment over the weekend from 6-2 guard Raul Delgado of Western Nebraska Community College. Delgado made his official campus visit on Saturday, took in the BYU-St. Mary's game, and committed shortly thereafter. He will sign with the Cougars when the late signing period begins in April.
WNCC coach Russell Beck, a native of Alpine, Utah, who has coached at SLCC, said Delgado has not used a redshirt year, so he will have three years to play two at BYU if he wants. However, he's not viewed as a redshirt candidate by the Cougars, who need some help in the backcourt.
Beck said Delgado also had offers from TCU, USU, Wyoming and Detroit and called the former Springville High star "one of the best shooting guards in the country" in the juco ranks. Delgado is averaging 19.7 ppg. for WNCC and shooting 43 percent from 3-point range.
Delgado also was drawing interest from Texas A&M, UCLA, Colorado, Virginia and Rutgers, and Beck says his cell phone has been ringing nonstop the past few weeks from Division I coaches wanting to get in on recruiting Delgado.
"He's a good kid, and he's worked really hard to get where he's at," Beck said. "He visited BYU, and just felt like that's the place for him."
Having grown up in Utah County (he's a native of Chihauhau, Mexico), Delgado is good friends with Provo High products/BYU players Brandon Davies, Chris Collinsworth, Kyle Collinsworth (on a mission) and Tyler Haws (on a mission).
Haws and Delgado will take the scholarships vacated by Charles Abouo and Noah Hartsock, who are seniors and will leave the program after this season.
The Cougars won't have any more scholarships available now unless one of the current members of the team calls it a career, or does not have his scholarship renewed.
The two players BYU signed in November, prep seniors Cory Calvert of Colorado and Jordan Chatman of Washington, will go on LDS Church missions before enrolling.
WNCC's Beck said Delgado is an "athletic slasher" and "super athletic." He wasn't a great shooter out of high school, but has worked hard on that part of his game.
"The sky is the limit for this kid," Beck said.