This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The steps made were incremental in Year 1. Now, what do Mark Pope and the new-look Utah Valley Wolverines have up their sleeve in 2017? Time will tell.
After going 12-18 (6-8 in WAC) in its first year under Pope —the longtime BYU assistant coach — UVU will feature 11 new players this season, including eight eligible to play in their first year in Orem. The only starters to return from last year's group are seniors Ivory Young and Andrew Bastien.
The Wolverines will have to mesh swiftly if the first-year players are to have an early effect. Pope and his staff welcome in University of Utah transfer Kenneth Ogbe, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard who battled injuries in his two years with the Utes.
Another transfer is BYU transfer Jake Toolson, a 6-5 two-guard, but the Gilbert, Ariz. native will have to sit out 2017 due to NCAA transfer rules. Toolson, who averaged 3.9 points and 1.6 rebounds his sophomore year with the Cougars, will have two years to play at UVU starting next season.
Former BYU forward Isaac Neilson will be eligible to play this year, however, after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. The 6-11 big man from Mission Viejo, Calif., is expected to vie for a starting role. Same goes for Brandon Randolph, a 6-2 redshirt junior guard, who transferred to UVU a year ago from Xavier. Junior forward Zach Nelson also returns after missing last year with a medical redshirt.
A youngster to keep an eye on is 6-6 true freshman Jared Stutzman, who recently returned from his LDS mission and chose UVU over the likes of Utah and Utah State.
The Wolverines were preseason picks to finish fourth (coaches' poll) and fifth (media poll) in the WAC last month. Their first true test? At No. 14 Gonzaga on Friday night.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Utah Valley at a glance
Key additions • F Isaac Neilson, G Brandon Randolph, G Jared Stutzman, G Kenneth Ogbe
Key losses • G Marcel Davis, G Jaden Jackson, F Darrious Hamilton, F Konner Frey
Projected starters • G Brandon Randolph, G Conner Toolson, F Zach Nelson, F Isaac Neilson, C Andrew Bastien
Bottom line • The Wolverines were picked fourth by WAC coaches in the preseason poll, which means UVU's talent base has caught the eyes of rivals within the conference.
Season opener
UVU at No. 14 Gonzaga
Friday, 8 p.m.
TV • ROOT Sports
Radio • 960 AM