Utah Basketball Could Be Close To Final Roster Addition
Aug 11, 2024, 2:56 PM | Updated: 3:32 pm
University of Utah head basketball coach Craig Smith talks to media before practice at the Jon M. and Karen Huntsman Basketball Facility in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. (Photo Cred: Kristen Murphey, Deseret News.)
(Photo Cred: Kristen Murphey, Deseret News.)
SALT LAKE CITY – It’s August, which means Utah Football is in full swing. However, Craig Smith and Utah Basketball could be closing in on a final addition for 2024-25 roster..
On Thursday, Jon Rothstein reported that Easley had received a waiver for an additional year of elgibility from the NCAA. That has cleared the path for him to play a sixth season.
Sources: Coastal Carolina's Kevin Easley has received a waiver from the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility and is eligible for the 2024-25 season.
Averaged 9.1 PPG and 5.2 RPG last season.
Easley will attempt to enter the transfer portal.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) August 8, 2024
Utah Basketball an option?
According to a source, Utah is in the mix for Coastal Carolina transfer forward Kevin Easley. With one last roster spot available, Easley would make a solid final piece.
Utah is not the only school involved with Easley though. According to the same source, the list of programs that have at least contacted him includes Arkansas, Louisville, Michigan, and Texas A&M among others.
Despite the other interested suitors, there is a key relationship that could work in Utah’s favor here.
Who is Kevin Easley?
A fifth-year senior that will play his sixth season this year. Easley’s appeared in 117 games and started 83 of them, so he possesses is a lot of experience. He also played a season at TCU in 2020-21, which gives him familiarity with the Big 12 Conference.
Easley is a 6-foot-7, 230 pound forward that is primarily a four. He owns career averages of 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. He’s converted 42.4% from the field, 33.6% from 3-point range, and 66.8% from the charity stripe.
Filling the 13th scholarship roster spot
Coach Smith and his new staff members have all shared at various points this offseason that they are focused on filling out the roster.
To be clear, Easley is not the only player that Utah is recruiting. In fact, he may not even be the player they are furthest along with in their recruiting efforts.
Though other options cannot be named, two different sources have indicated that Utah is closing in on a final addition.
Utah Basketball Roster
Snith and staff have made a number of additions to the roster. You can find Utah basketball’s new roster here.
