It's official: BYU forward Nate Austin receives waiver for one more year


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PROVO — Through 10 games in 2014-15, BYU senior forward Nate Austin was among the Cougars’ top contributors on the boards with 5.6 rebounds per game before pulling up with a season-ending hamstring injury Dec. 10 at Utah.

But he’ll be back for another year.

The Alpine native and Lone Peak High graduate will return for one more season after receiving a medical hardship waiver from the West Coast Conference, BYU announced Tuesday afternoon.

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

Austin averaged 3.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 116 games play across all or part of four seasons. He ranks fifth in BYU history with 220 offensive rebounds, 16th with 69 career blocked shots, and 19th in total rebounds with 278.

Austin’s status with the team is uncertain, as the fifth-year senior joins a roster that already includes 15 players and sits alongside forwards Jamal Aytes, Kyle Davis and Corbin Kaufusi, among others.

If Austin’s scholarship situation is not cleared up, he could potentially walk-on as a fifth-year senior.

BYU picked up another big man walk-on recently when former Pleasant Grove 7-footer Alan Hamson committed to Rose’s program. His mother and former BYU All-American Tresa Spaulding Hamson confirmed to the (Provo) Daily Herald late Monday.

Alan Hamson, the brother of former BYU women’s basketball and volleyball All-American Jennifer Hamson who is now playing with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, is currently serving in the California Ventura Mission. He is enrolled in classes at BYU for the upcoming fall semester and plans to study computer programming.

The younger Hamson returns home Aug. 26, and would begin classes the following Monday. His mother told the Herald he has grown to 7-foot-3 after back surgery to correct scoliosis following his senior year with the Vikings, when he averaged 10.6 points, seven rebounds and six blocks per game.

Hamson received walk-on interest from BYU, Utah, Utah Valley and Utah State, according to his mother.

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