BYU Basketball Adds Another International Player

BYU head coach Kevin Young continues to build a global brand in Provo, with the latest addition to the Cougars' roster being Austrian international Aleksej Kostic.

The 6-foot-4 guard officially signed with BYU on Wednesday, per KSL Sports. He brings international experience and elite shooting to a team already budding with talent at every key position.

Kostic recently competed with the Austrian senior national team, logging his seventh appearance in a friendly against Slovakia. He also made headlines two years ago with a standout performance in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B tournament, where he averaged 19.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

Kostic ended that run with a 34-point outing against Montenegro, solidifying his reputation as one of Austria’s top young scorers. Last season with the Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions in the Austrian Superliga, Kostic averaged 6.5 points per game and shot an impressive 36.4% from beyond the arc.

“We’re very excited to add Aleksej to our program here at BYU,” Young said via KSL. “He brings valuable experience having represented his country on the national team level. He is a high-level shooter who can play multiple positions and gives us another ball handler and playmaker.”

Kostic joins a BYU squad poised for a breakout year in Young’s second season. The roster features returning top scorer Richie Saunders and elite freshman AJ Dybantsa, fresh off an MVP run at the FIBA U19 World Cup. Other new additions include rim protector Xavion Staton, guards Robert Wright III and Dominique Diomande, sharpshooter Tyler Mrus, and Nate Pickens.

With BYU expected to be ranked in the top five nationally, expectations are sky-high, especially with Dybantsa leading the charge in a one-and-done season. The former five-star recruit is expected to be the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Cougars open the season Nov. 3 against Villanova at T-Mobile Arena in Las Las Vegas. The matchup is part of a loaded non-conference schedule, including matchups with UConn, Wisconsin, Clemson, and others at a MTE (Multi-team event) at Disney World in November.