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Carlon Brown came, then left. So, too, did Will Clyburn and Antonio DiMaria and J.J. O'Brien. Add to that list the six scholarship players from last season's Utah team who, in the last month, were released from their scholarships.
In three seasons, 19 players have transferred out of the Utah basketball program. For fans who mind and are tired of learning new names only to read them next to the words "granted his release," coach Larry Krystkowiak this week offered a simple — and direct — message.
"It's not anything they're going to have to put up with anymore," he said.
Krystkowiak bridged the year between Jim Boylen's departure to now with marginal Division I players — essentially rentals — who gutsily led Utah to a 6-25 season in its first year in the Pac-12. Starting Wednesday, the first day of the six-week-long spring signing period, Krystkowiak will finalize his first true recruiting class, which will have as many as eight players.
In Krystkowiak's second season, his team will undergo, in some ways, a more dramatic makeover than in his first. Last year, the team returned four scholarship players; next year it will be just two. The difference, though, is that the Utes will also add transfers Aaron Dotson and Glen Dean, expected starters who sat out after transferring from Division I programs, and senior center David Foster, who redshirted after breaking his foot.
After a year building this class, which is headlined by West Jordan star Jordan Loveridge, Krystkowiak said it needs to bring stability to the roster.
"If you look around the country, it seems like there's always one guy that's a little disenchanted or maybe wants greener pastures," he said. "That would maybe be all about I could tolerate from this point forward. It's not going to be a pattern for us."
The Utes have three scholarships available for next season after news broke Tuesday that 6-foot-7 signee Josh Hearlihy, from Harvard-Westlake (Calif.), opted out of his letter of intent at Krystkowiak's request.
The Utes have several targets going into the final signing period. Point guard Brandon Taylor, from the Los Angeles area, has committed and is expected to sign Wednesday. The Utes are also in the mix for coveted wing Givon Crump, who spent last year at Pasadena City Community College after stints at Baylor and Fresno State, and according to reports is choosing between Utah, New Mexico State and Cal State-Fullerton.
The Utes are also recruiting power forward Renan Lenz, who spent last year at Arizona Western College.
Regardless of how the Utes end up using their final scholarships, two signees said they could feel the tide turning in the program.
"Everyone doesn't really have confidence in Utah basketball," Loveridge said. "And it used to be that's where it was at. I feel that this class can make it go back to where it was and make it go farther and be better."
Said incoming guard Justin Seymour: "It will be good to get some new guys in and just be able to compete."
While those guys probably need to say those sorts of things, they highlight the point that Krystkowiak can ill afford more turnover. Eight players left when Boylen was fired, and Krystkowiak had a month to replace them.
"We've had more time to get involved with a lot of the kids," Krystkowiak said. "A year ago it was very much condensed into less than a month's period of time to try to complete the roster."
This time, the coach had a year. But some fans may not be able to help but wonder: Will his players stay longer than that?
Utah's 2013 recruiting class
Signed
• Jordan Loveridge, F, West Jordan
• Dallin Bachynski, F, Calgary, Alberta
• Jeremy Olsen, F, Lawrenceville, Ga.
• Justin Seymour, G, Smyrna, Ga.
• Josh Hearlihy*, F, Los Angeles
Committed
• Brandon Taylor, PG, Los Angeles
Remaining scholarships • 3
Notable targets
• Givon Crump, G/F, Pasadena City Community College
• Renan Lenz, F, Arizona Western
*Hearlihy was reportedly asked by the program to opt out of his scholarship this week and will not join the Utes Say goodbye
Utah players who have left the program since 2010:
2012
• Chris Hines
• Kareem Storey
• Javon Dawson
• Dijon Farr
• Anthony Odunsi
• George Matthews
2011
• Will Clyburn
• J.J. O'Brien
• Antonio DiMaria
• Dominique Lee
• Preston Guiot
• Chris Kupets
• Shawn Glover
• Jace Tavita
2010
• Carlon Brown
• Jordan Cyphers
• Marshall Henderson
• Matt Read
• Trey Smith