When BYU last reached the Sweet 16 in 2011, guard Egor Demin was just five years old. In fact, most of the current players were around that age when Jimmer Fredette captivated the college basketball world. But there was one kid a little older—one who watched “Jimmermania” with wide eyes. That kid was Trevin Knell.

Fast forward to now, and Knell isn’t just watching—he’s leading. At 26 years old, he’s the oldest player in college basketball and a key factor in BYU’s success. The experience, the battles, the years of grinding—it all led him to this moment. And he knows it. “People probably joke that I was on the [2011] team,” Knell said with a grin during Wednesday’s press conference at the Prudential Center. But jokes aside, Knell’s experience is real. His presence is vital. But in BYU’s high-stakes showdown against Alabama, fate had other plans.

The collision that stopped BYU in its tracks

Midway through the game, Knell was locked in—playing his signature aggressive defense. Every possession mattered, and he was doing what he did best: disrupting Alabama’s rhythm. Then, in an instant, disaster struck.

As Knell lunged for a steal, he collided hard with Chris Youngblood. The impact was brutal—so much so that Knell went crashing to the floor, blood immediately dripping from his nose onto the court. The sight was jarring. BYU’s training staff rushed onto the floor. The arena, buzzing with energy just moments before, fell into a stunned silence.

After a tense few moments, Knell was able to walk off under his own power, trainers closely monitoring him. For Cougars fans, seeing Knell helped off the court was gut-wrenching. This was a player who had defied all odds just to get to this moment—enduring injuries, setbacks, and a long, unconventional journey through college basketball.

And now, just as BYU was fighting for a coveted spot in the Elite Eight, they were without one of their most experienced players. And, his absence was felt immediately. The 26-year-old left the game with 32-38 in trailing and came back to the gap widened at 40-51. BYU never recovered. Nate Oats’ squad held on to the lead through to the end to secure a second consecutive trip to the Elite Eight 133-88.

Knell finished with 10 points in 24 minutes. He’s been a crucial piece as a sixth-year senior, having joined the 1000 points club. He also came in clutch against Wisconsin with a 14-point performance and went a flawless 4-for-4 from the 3 against Iowa State.

But this wasn’t the first time Knell had been knocked down. His journey to this point had been filled with roadblocks—shoulder surgery, a lost season, a foot injury that nearly sidelined him again. But every time, he found a way back.

Injury-riddled journey comes to an end, Trevin Knell reveals he now awaits future opportunities

It all started back in the 2021-22 season when Knell began experiencing persistent shoulder pain. At first, he tried to push through it, but the discomfort only worsened. Eventually, it became clear that surgery was the only option.“It came down that I had to get surgery on my rotator cuff. It partially tore the tendon,” Knell told BYUtv in 2022. That meant a long recovery.

Three to four months turned into an entire lost season. Knell was forced to watch from the sidelines as BYU struggled, finishing 7-9 in the West Coast Conference in 2022-23. And just when it seemed like his basketball journey was being derailed, Knell found a way to extend it. He used the missed season as a medical redshirt, securing another year of eligibility.

Between a two-year mission trip, a global pandemic, and a major shoulder surgery, Knell’s college basketball timeline had stretched beyond belief. He’d also suffer a season-threathening foot injury last year. But somehow, against all odds, he found himself in the 2025 NCAA Tournament—eight years after graduating high school. But with a loss to Alabama that comes to an end. Knell reveals he is grateful for whatever opportunity he has had but it’s time to call it a day here. Future plans? He is keeping it simple.

“I am gonna take a couple of days off, play with my little dog and see what other opportunities open up for basketball and other things,” he said in his last post-game interview.