Jaxon Kohler Commits to BYU After Utah Jazz Summer League Stint

Jaxon Kohler's offseason full of hoops has ended with a landing spot at BYU.

The 6-foot-10 forward, who went undrafted this year, signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Utah Jazz and suited up for the team's Summer League squad in July. Kohler committed to BYU on Thursday, choosing the Cougars over other powerhouse schools like Kentucky, Kansas and Louisville.

Kohler is from American Fork, about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — BYU's sponsoring faith.

He had already been spotted doing workouts and playing pickup games on campus throughout the summer, fueling speculation that he would return home, even while he name was on the Jazz Summer League roster.

The decision isn't shocking from Kohler. His Exhibit 10 deal positioned him for training camp and potential G League minutes, but it never obstructed a path back to college.

Kohler's route back to campus ran through the courts.  A California injunction granted him and other graduated seniors from his class a fifth year of eligibility. That injunction is part of a broader legal fight over the NCAA's new "five-in-five" model. A second injunction cleared him to enter the transfer portal, something that his first ruling did not cover. The NCAA is expected to keep fighting both.

Once that door cracked open, Kohler entered the portal and committed within a few days.

Kohler averaged six points and five rebounds with the Jazz in the Summer League. His best performance came against the Memphis Grizzlies, where he dropped 11 points and snagged six rebounds.

It was a small, but useful sample to remind scouts why he was an every-day starter during his final two seasons with Michigan State.

Kohler started for four seasons under Tom Izzo, helped Michigan State to eight NCAA Tournament wins, an Elite Eight run in 2025 and posted a career year as a senior: 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds on 50% shooting. He earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors and finished his Michigan State career averaging 6.9 points and 5.7 rebounds across 127 games.

Kohler never got a guaranteed NBA deal. However, he leaves this offseason with arguably a bigger platform than the one he would've had fighting for spot minutes in Utah's frontcourt rotation.

For BYU, landing a proven, physical starter with local roots ranks among coach Kevin Young's best wins of the transfer portal.