PROVO — There's no denying that BYU basketball head coach Mark Pope is an excellent recruiter.
But in arguably the most unique recruiting job of his career — trying to convince his three seniors, all transfers, to return to BYU for another season after one impacted by COVID-19 that provided a free year of eligibility from the NCAA. The coach is now 0 for 2.
Matt Haarms officially opted not to return to BYU on Friday, making the announcement himself on social media after several reports and second-hand accounts alluded to it all week. Haarms made the announcement Friday on his Instagram account, a message that was immediately met with, "We love you, Matt; go get it," from assistant coach Cody Fueger.