This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

BYU's big-man situation for the 2015-16 basketball season is slowly taking shape.

Tuesday, the Cougars announced that forward Nate Austin has been granted a medical hardship waiver from the West Coast Conference and will be eligible for a fifth season.

"Having Nate back for this season will be a big boost for our team," BYU coach Dave Rose said. "His experience will help us on both ends of the floor. Nate brings great enthusiasm and leadership, so we are excited to have him back."

Austin played in just 10 games last season before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury before the tip-off of the game against Utah on Dec. 10. He averaged 3.0 points and 5.6 rebounds before the injury.

BYU's release did not state whether Austin will be on scholarship or not. I've been told that is still being determined.

Basketball teams are allowed to give out 13 scholarships, and the Cougars currently have 12 allotted for next season (not counting Austin).

Presumably, Austin will get the scholarship if Rose doesn't sign a junior college transfer, a graduate transfer or an incoming freshman.

Meanwhile, the Daily Herald reported Tuesday that former Pleasant Grove center Alan Hamson, the 7-foot-3 brother of former BYU women's basketball star Jennifer Hamson, will walk on at BYU this fall. Hamson is on a mission in Ventura, Calif., and returns home in August.

Hamson had an unspectacular prep career at Pleasant Grove and had back surgery after he graduated due to scoliosis. He averaged 10.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and six blocks per game at PG, according to the Daily Herald.

With Isaac Neilson transferring to Utah Valley University, Frank Bartley IV transferring to Louisiana at Lafayette and Luke Worthington, Dalton Nixon and Ryan Andrus departing on church missions, Hamson and Austin will compete for playing time with Corbin Kaufusi, USU transfer Kyle Davis, UNLV transfer Jamal Aytes and returned missionaries Jakob Hartsock and Braiden Shaw.

Zac Seljaas, the incoming freshman from Bountiful High, will play this season before leaving on a church mission. However, the 6-foot-7 star will likely play as a wing or shooting guard for the Cougars.