Editor’s note: This story was updated to include reports that Ezra Ausar is entering the transfer portal.
When the University of Utah men’s basketball team takes the floor for the first time under new head coach Alex Jensen, there’s probably going to be a lot of new faces.
Between graduating seniors and a bevy of players already in the transfer portal, Jensen, the former Runnin’ Ute legend, faces a challenge in fielding his first time for the 2025-26 season.
While Jensen isn’t working full time as Utah’s head coach — he’ll do that once his time as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks comes to a close, perhaps even in a couple weeks — he’s already brought on a pair of helpers to get recruiting heading in the right direction.
Jensen has already announced one of his assistants — noted recruiting guru Raphael Chillious — and has his general manager, longtime NBA executive and GM Wes Wilcox.
Those two are leading the efforts behind building the Utes’ roster for the upcoming season, a task that’s already at hand with the transfer portal window open for business.
Jensen stressed the importance of building relationships when asked about recruiting during his introductory press conference.
“That’s a relationship-based thing and now it’s evolved, because you have agents — there’s a whole world of people — and there’s relationships that you have to have where you can get to the meat of the kid, if that makes sense, get the real story,” Jensen said.
“That’s a relationship-based thing and now it’s evolved, because you have agents — there’s a whole world of of people — and there’s relationships that you have to have where you can get to the meat of the kid, if that makes sense, get the real story.”
Utah basketball coach Alex Jensen
“It’s going to be a lot of work, and I know that. I’m excited again,” he continued. “It’s hard finishing up in Dallas, but I’ll do my due diligence to get a staff that understands, that knows that because there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and it ...
