Pac 12 Preview: Utah

Roster

Last Season:  5-16 overall and 4-15 in Pac 12 play 

The Coaches:

Lynne Roberts

Lynne Roberts is in her 7th year after moving from the University of Pacific, UOP.  Roberts was Head Coach at UOP for 9 seasons, being named Conference Coach of the Year twice in the last three years.  Before UOP Roberts was Head Coach at Chico State for 4 seasons.   

Gavin Peterson is in his 7th year after 2 seasons with Roberts at UOP.  Peterson has been an assistant in the West since 2002 and an Associate Head Coach for 6 of those seasons.

Joanna Reitz is in her 5th season as a coach at Utah.   Reitz has coached for 7 years mostly D2. 

Jerise Freeman is in her first season at Utah.  Freeman was an Assistant Oklahoma State the past 4 years.  

 

Losses:

Niyah Becker is from Canada, and   She has played on Canadian Youth National teams.   She was ranked # 10 International Recruit.  Niyah averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds this past season.   She is now at Wake Forest

Donna Ntambue, from Canada and ranked # 13 in Canada.  This past season she played just 20 minutes and left the team. 

Lola Pendande is a Post from Spain.    Lola averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds last season.  Lola is now at Miama of Florida. 

Ola Makurat averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds.    Ola transferred to Arkansas State.  

Zuzanna Puc averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds.

 

Additions:

Jenna Johnson, 6-2 Forward from MN, # 3 player in MN, # 42 nationally

Gianna Kneepkens, 5-11 Guard from MN ranked # 65.

Dasia Young, 5-11 Jr Wing transfer from UT Martin.   Young averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds last season.

Maka Jackson, 5-9 Sr Guard who transferred from Texas Tech.  Maka averaged 6 points in 26 points past two seasons at Texas Tech.

Ines Vieira, 5-6 Frosh Guard from Portugal.   Played twice for their 16U team.  

 

The Schedule:   Xavier, Gonzaga, Oklahoma and BYU top the non- conference schedule.  

 

The Team:

Kemery Martin, 6-0 Jr Guard averaged 11 points. 

Brynna Maxwell, 6-0 Jr Guard averaged 13 points.

Brynna Maxwell

Dru Gylten is a 5-11 Redshirt Sr Guard who averaged 8 points and 5 assists.

Andrea Torres is a 6-2 Sr Forward from Canada.  Torres has played on Canada’s youth national teams.  Andrea averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds. 

Kennady McQueen, 5-11 Soph Guard from Utah ranked # 60 out of HS and averaged 5 points.

Payton McFarland, 6-3 Soph Post from Idaho ranked # 80 out of HS and averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds.

Kelsey Rees, 6-5 Soph Post from Australia.  Sister of Washington’s Darcy Rees.  Kelsey averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds.

Isabel Palmer is a 5-9 Redshirt Soph Guard who transferred from Texas where as a Frosh she averaged 3 points.   Palmer was born in the US but moved to Australia with her family at the age of 4 months.  

 

Predictions:  

Strong Guard and Wing play with Martin, Gylten and Maxwell but really need the Bigs Rees and McFarland to step up.    Plus their top recruits need to play a strong role.    It may be a long season.   

 

2022 Recruiting:

Teya Sidberry, 6-1 Wing, UT Not ranked

Lani White, 5-11 Guard SoCal Not ranked