Cal, of all teams, is cleaning up in basketball recruiting. They're now in the running for another top recruit - MSU decommit Caleb Swanigan.
The Golden Bears are probably going to be favored over Utah as a contender to Arizona's throne and it's all built on hype through their recruiting class. Granted, the results aren't there yet, but I'm hoping the Utes will be able to parlay their successful 2015 season into something big in next year's class - and they're certainly trying. Utah is going after some heavy hitters in 2016. Of course, the biggest name is Frank Jackson, who probably is a pipe dream but a nice one.
Yet even though the Utes are coming off their best season in a decade, and look poised to be a strong, consistent Pac-12 program, Utah's recruiting class for 2015 isn't exactly stellar compared to the rest of the conference.
Which will be interesting to follow because while the rise in college basketball can be easy, maintaining that success is a whole 'nother level. Both Giacoletti and Boylen found that out fast, and while Krystkowiak put together a really solid class his first season here, there hasn't been as many 'wowzer' commits since - not that is necessarily a bad thing. Delon Wright was just a three-star-er coming out of City of San Francisco, and held offers from Wazzu and Utah.
But I do think, at this level, talent trumps grit and to sustain the success, Utah is going to have to win some recruiting battles with Pac-12 teams. Right now, in this year's class, no player held offers from other Pac-12 schools. That could be a combination of things ... but hopefully that isn't the case again in 2016.
Don't get me wrong, though, I'm optimistic about the future of Utah basketball...but seeing Cal clean up, even though their basketball program is miles and miles behind Utah's in both fan support and tradition (and I get Cal is a great school and blah, blah, blah, still...) makes me a bit jealous.
The Golden Bears are probably going to be favored over Utah as a contender to Arizona's throne and it's all built on hype through their recruiting class. Granted, the results aren't there yet, but I'm hoping the Utes will be able to parlay their successful 2015 season into something big in next year's class - and they're certainly trying. Utah is going after some heavy hitters in 2016. Of course, the biggest name is Frank Jackson, who probably is a pipe dream but a nice one.
Yet even though the Utes are coming off their best season in a decade, and look poised to be a strong, consistent Pac-12 program, Utah's recruiting class for 2015 isn't exactly stellar compared to the rest of the conference.
Which will be interesting to follow because while the rise in college basketball can be easy, maintaining that success is a whole 'nother level. Both Giacoletti and Boylen found that out fast, and while Krystkowiak put together a really solid class his first season here, there hasn't been as many 'wowzer' commits since - not that is necessarily a bad thing. Delon Wright was just a three-star-er coming out of City of San Francisco, and held offers from Wazzu and Utah.
But I do think, at this level, talent trumps grit and to sustain the success, Utah is going to have to win some recruiting battles with Pac-12 teams. Right now, in this year's class, no player held offers from other Pac-12 schools. That could be a combination of things ... but hopefully that isn't the case again in 2016.
Don't get me wrong, though, I'm optimistic about the future of Utah basketball...but seeing Cal clean up, even though their basketball program is miles and miles behind Utah's in both fan support and tradition (and I get Cal is a great school and blah, blah, blah, still...) makes me a bit jealous.
