Here are the BYU, Utah players honored by Big 12, including improved Richie Saunders

PROVO — Richie Saunders admits he was infinitesimally close to transferring to Kentucky, following former coach Mark Pope and assistant Cody Fueger to Lexington, when he entered the transfer portal following a coaching change to end last season.

Saunders played in 78 games of his first two seasons at BYU, starting just three, and earned a reputation as a dogged, gritty sparkplug in averaging 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds as a sophomore.

But when the Cougars hired a coach directly from the Phoenix Suns, Saunders eventually committed to Kevin Young, who recognized what he had pretty quick in developing what many consider to be a future NBA talent in his junior campaign.

"He's obviously got an unbelievable work ethic and just an unbelievable motor," Young said Monday of Saunders. "Those are the things that drive him and help him be successful."

Saunders was the top choice for most improved player in a vote of Big 12 coaches announced Monday by the conference. The 6-foot-5 junior from Riverton, Utah, is the second BYU player to win a postseason superlative since the Cougars joined the conference last year.

The Wasatch Academy alum increased his scoring from 9.6 points a year ago under Pope to 16.0 points per game in Young's first season, while also improving his shooting percentage from 36.4% to 43.7%.

"I think it's been a good marriage of the way we like to play, and his strengths," Young said. "It's a poster child of when two things like that meet, in a good fit. It's been a seamless fit, and he's been great at adapting ... and utilizing his strengths in the way we like to operate. He's taken advantage of that opportunity."

Texas Tech's JT Toppin was named Big 12 player and newcomer of the year, and Houston's Joseph Tugler won defensive player of the year. Tugler's coach, Kelvin Sampson, earned league coach of the year honors for the 10th time in his career and second consecutive season in the Big 12.

Baylor phenom VJ Edgecombe was named Big 12 freshman of the year, and Iowa State's Curtis Jones Big 12 sixth man of the year — the award represented last year by former BYU wing Jaxson Robinson, who followed Pope to Kentucky.

Saunders also earned All-Big 12 first-team honors, in addition to Arizona's Caleb Love, Baylor's Norchad Omier, Houston's LJ Cryer and J'Wan Roberts, Kansas' Hunter Dickinson, Texas Tech's Darrion Williams and West Virginia's Javon Small.

BYU's Egor Demin was one of five players on the league's All-Freshman team, and Utah's Gabe Madsen earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors after averaging 15.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Runnin' Utes, who open the Big 12 Tournament Tuesday against UCF.

Madsen played four seasons with the Utes, all under former head coach Craig Smith, where he became the all-time 3-point leader in school history with 308 and counting.

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