Crazy not to, IMO

[UtesRule]

I think every player on the men’s basketball whose descent should enter the portal and test the waters. It’s the way of the world in college athletics right now. Alex will have to recruit who he wants from the current players to stay.

In the end, I predict Dawes, Whalin and Ezra return. The Shark, not 100% sure the new staff will want him, but if they do he’s back too.

Excited to see who Alex and the new staff can get in to the program in year one.

Go Alex and Go Utes!

[FountainofUte]

I’m not sure I agree about Ezra. He’s a nice player for free. If ya suddenly gotta pay for his production, I’ll bet we can get the same for less, or more for the same price.

[//r00t4Utes]

I’m confused. Where was it shown that Ezra was playing for free and not getting any NIL? I don’t know wrist or how much, but I’m sure he was getting NIL money. After all, he left his family back east to come to post at Utah.

[FountainofUte]

That’s fair, and you’re right.

[AZUTE]

I really doubt Ezra returns. He’s asking for so much that Utah can get two players just as good as he is for what he wants in NIL.

Utah would absolutely love to have him back but they aren’t going to over pay to keep him.

Someone will over pay to get him but it’s not going to be Utah

He has a family and you can’t fault him for getting all he can to help take care of them.

[Utah Man 3]

I agree, I would rather spend the money on a point guard that can actually set up an offense

[//r00t4Utes]

How much is he asking for? I hadn’t seen anything, not that I’ve looked.

[Utopia]

Also, Ausar and Dawes play the same position and both will want to be the main PF. Dawes has more upside and should be the preferred choice. I don’t see Ausar accepting a reduced role when he can probably get a featured role and better NIL elsewhere. I just don’t see the logic/logistics of Ausar returning.

[Minnesota Ute]

Yup, I’d bet money Ezra is gone. I feel like he is going to go for the highest dollar, and I think he needs a team with so much NIL money that they can afford to pay what he is looking for even if he isn’t quite worth every penny. Assuming that to be the case, I’d like to see us put a little more NIL capital behind Dawes because he brings more to the table. He has an outside shot, he is a better rebounder, and appears to have a higher BBall IQ. He tops Ezra in almost every statistical category when looked at on a per 40 min basis, except scoring and that’s primarily because Ezra would aggressively seek his own shot even when it was often a bad shot and others were open.

[Yergensen]

KD and Ezra play the same position. Both want starter minutes. KD is the better player. KD is younger. No brainer.

[Utah Man 3]

I think Ezra is a great player but KD definitely has more upside

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Ezra is a little undersized. He struggles with taller defenders. KD better all around player.

[Utopia]

My prediction (as someone with no inside knowledge):

Dawes and Whalin will be back. Dawes is potentially a star and Whalin is a decent role player. This is a decent-good frontcourt combo that has two more years of eligibility. Ausar won’t be back due to the various reasons that have been mentioned.

I don’t rate Keller at all, but I think he might be kept just to have a true center with some experience.

I’m also not high on Shark and Little, but I think one might be kept for some transitional continuity and experience in the backcourt. They both primarily play PG, so I don’t think it makes sense to keep both considering we should be trying to upgrade the starting PG. I wouldn’t be surprised nor disappointed if neither are back.

I have no idea about any of the other scholarship guys that didn’t play.

So that would make 4 returning rotation players, but only 1 that figures to be a real impact player. Need to fill 4 rotation spots with guys that didn’t play last year or new recruits.

Highest priorities should be to keep Dawes, upgrade PG and get an athletic wing.

If Jensen’s impact is what we hope and we pick up the right pieces in this and next offseason, I think it’s conceivable that we could develop into a tourney team in ’26-27.

[UtesRule]

Whalin is MUCH more than a good role player. A year under Alex and staff and he’s also a star.

[TomahawkCruise]

We could develop into a tourney team for 2025-26. It’s doable in a single year now more than ever.

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