It’s basically free agency in college basketball right now, and with the Utes losing Charles Jones Jr. and probably Jayce Johnson (who is in the portal and taking visits), the Utes are finding themselves with some scholarship openings. The filled one of the openings with the signing of Brendan Wenzel out of San Antonio. Per the release from the U:
This past season as a senior, Wenzel averaged 24.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.9 steals per game. He shot 41 percent from three-point range and was an 87 percent shooter from the free throw line. He was named to the 2019 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) Class 6A All-State First Team and was named to the San Antonio Express News Super Team. Wenzel helped lead the Panthers to a 24-10 overall record this past season, which included a trip to the state playoffs where he averaged more than 25 points per game.
With the talented recruiting class coming in this coming season, the Utes have really added a lot of length and height, and that continues with Wenzel. What the Utes are really needing, though, that they’re really hoping Wenzel can bring is the ability to put the ball in the basket.
The key returners for the Utes are Donnie Tillman, Timmy Allen, Both Gach and Riley Battin. The Utes also have some youngsters that red shirted, but those four are the key ones that will return with experience. Tillman and Allen will be the offensive load among all of those guys. After the Utes went large, large stretches of being unable to score the basketball last season, hopefully a guy like Wenzel can come in and put some points on the board for the Utes.
Wenzel joins an incoming freshman class that also includes Jaxon Brenchley, Branden Carlson, Mikael Jauntunen, Rylan Jones and Matt Vankomen.