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Both a former member of the U.S. Boys Youth National Team and a high school conference player of the year recipient have committed to BYU.
BYU announced Tuesday that high school seniors Branden Oberender and Alex Ah Sue signed national letters of intent to join the Cougars following their two-year church missions.
Oberender, a 6-foot-7 middle attacker from Simi Valley, California, helped the United States this summer win a gold medal at the NORCECA U-19 Continental Championships. The middle attacker also was selected to the Volleyball Magazine Top 25 Underclassmen to Watch national list.
“Branden is a really important signing for us,” BYU coach Chris McGown said in a statement released Tuesday. “We’ve needed to get deeper in the middle, and he’s got all the tools to be a great player.”
Ah Sue, a 6-foot-4 outside attacker from Camarillo, California, earned first-team all-state honors last season as a junior. In addition, Ah Sue was selected as the most valauble player of the Pacific View League and was named to the first-team all-conference for the second consecutive season.
“Alex has been on our short list for a few years now, and we are really excited that he’s chosen to come to BYU,” McGown said. “He’s gifted with raw athleticism – a good jump and a really nice arm. His ball control is already at a nice level, and we’re impressed with his vision and decision-making.”
Both Oberender and Ah Sue are projected to join BYU for the 2018 season following their mission trips.
BYU last season won back-to-back MPSF championships and reached to the NCAA Tournament semifinals. However, the Cougars in the upcoming season will have to replace outside attacker Taylor Sander who concluded his four-year college career winning the 2014 National Player of the Year.