I’m as shocked as anyone about Basketball recruiting the past two seasons. Not mentioning any teams.
So, bottom line here…whoever we have for this year is who we have for next year?
Scholarships are tight at Utah at the moment. The team is comprised of 11 underclassmen and one senior. IIRC, 13 scholarships are available. Had Chandler committed, which he didn’t, he was a missionary kid, and not going to count towards Utah’s scholarship total. Godfrey, who committed to Clemson yesterday, was the final known high profile potential addition for Utah. Rumors abound that Utah is looking at a few international players, maybe even JC. But I suspect the final scholarship will be held, at least for a bit. That means at the end of the season, Utah may have two scholarships available, unless players leave. Since players always leave for whatever reason, I suspect Utah will be looking at three to four new players.
The Utes roster includes three (3) freshman, two (2) sophomores, six (6) juniors and one (1) senior (Mahorcic).
Expected Starters
Point Guard - Rollie Worster, 6-4, Fr.
Guard - David Jenkins Jr, 6-1, Jr.
Wing - Marco Anthony, 6-5, Jr.
Post/Wing - Riley Battin, 6-9, Jr.
Post - Branden Carlson, 7-0, So.
Back Ups
Guard - Gabe Madsen, 6-6, Fr.
Guard - Lazar Stefanovic, 6-7, Fr.
Forward - Dusan Mahorcic, 6-10 Sr.
Center - Lahat Thioune, 6-10 Jr.
Guard - Jaxson Brenchley, 6-4, So.
Forward - Bostyn Holt, 6-6, Jr.
Guard - Both Gach*, 6-6 Jr.
(*has not received NCAA waiver, may need to sit out the year)
NOPE!
The Utes are still in on a couple of top HS kids, although none have received the publicity of the top 4.
There are still plenty of HS kids out there. Most of the pre-season top kids are committed, but lots of 3-star kids blow up in their senior year, and many of them are available.
The transfer portal is open. Lots of JUCO kids are available.
Don’t forget international recruiting. The Utes are known to be in the running for a couple of Europeans.
As Rocker mentioned, this is just the early signing period. It clearly would be better to have a couple of commits by now, but all is not lost.
1 Like
Right. But so far, nothing.
BTW, I really appreciate your efforts on keeping us up to date on recruiting. I’m just frustrated that at this point we’ve come up empty, especially on kids that many figured we would get, who then go to that other in state school.
I know that @Ute_In_Texas follows Utah basketball on Twitter. He is pretty clued in on the smoke signals being sent up on Twitterville Ridge about the coaches efforts to add to the roster. As @Ute_In_Texas noted, Utah has targets, lower profile, who given what Craig Smith and the Utes need will be decent recruits. Given the state of Utah basketball, what we see is par for the course.
From ESPN, no targets shown for 2022. One – PG Jordan Ross from Pleasant Grove – for 2023 as seen below, but its early.
The scholarship count does not concern me. A couple of kids always leave due to lack of playing time. I know it’s harsh but scholarships are one year deals and every now and then the staff will not renew a kid because he’s a poor fit, or his game didn’t develop. There’s always room for a kid who makes the program better.
I fully expect Smith will bring in at least 3 recruits next year. Maybe more.
I don’t think there is any guarantee that the kids listed as juniors will return next year. Since they did not actually miss any games due to Covid, most will have played 4 full years and I expect that some will decide to move on with life or look at opportunities in Europe. I suspect that with all the fluidity with transfers, etc., the Utes and most other programs will be looking to add 4-5 new players every year.
I’m not worried. Calm down, everybody. There are plenty of players out there who can fill a team that is the kind we see go deep into the Tournament every year. So far, we just know about the publicized ones for whom we’ve been in the mix.
2 Likes
Agreed not really worried about some kid who may or may not be on the team in 2024
2 Likes
Dusan played a year at DII, a year at CC & last year (which does not count) at Illinois St.
So I think could come back for next year .
1 Like
So…the dance card is full…until its not.
2 Likes
There are departures that the coaches already know about by a few players that are ready to move on with life and join the real world (if they only knew). We have multiple scholarships for next year.
Swing for the fences on a few recruits, If they would have landed one of them it would have been great. They didn’t. Lots of talent still out there.
6 Likes
Utes have checked in on Alec Oglesby, a 6’5" SG in the portal. He started at Cleveland State, moved to UNC-Wilmington, and is in the portal again.
1 Like
1 Like
Seen on twitter: Utes have been in contact with PG Christian Spalding, a 6’2" PG out of Louisville.
1 Like
Utes have been talking to 2022 C 6’10" Ben Gold from New Zealand. He’s playing in an international tournament in SLC.
1 Like
2 Likes
This sort of fits here because it relates to recruiting. From John Newman:
Lazar Stefanovic is a significant piece of the Utah basketball program’s future. So is Gabe Madsen. I’m not sure of a lot these days watching this team, but I feel certain that those two freshmen are going to play a ton for Craig Smith if both stick around.
I think he’s right.
1 Like