Busting Brackets
Fansided

PAC-12 Basketball: Top 15 impact players from the 2020 recruiting class

By Trevor Sinodhinos

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Singer Carnell Johnson performs the American national anthem before the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament between the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies at T-Mobile Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Ducks defeated the Huskies 68-48. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Singer Carnell Johnson performs the American national anthem before the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament between the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies at T-Mobile Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Ducks defeated the Huskies 68-48. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 29: Tyler Rawson #21, Gabe Bealer and Sedrick Barefield #0 of the Utah Utes (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 29: Tyler Rawson #21, Gabe Bealer and Sedrick Barefield #0 of the Utah Utes (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

12. Utah Utes – Ian Martinez

The good news for the Utah Basketball is that the only senior on the 2019-20 roster was Marc Reininger who played a total of 18 minutes throughout the season. Coach Larry Krystkowiak had no major holes until Both Gach (10.7 PPG, 2.9 APG) decided to transfer when he and the Buffaloes’ other top scorer Timmy Allen (17.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG)  declared for the NBA Draft. Most believe it is strictly to get feedback from teams before returning to Salt Lake City. Now Gach will not be returning.

The counter to the good news of so many returning players is that the roster only managed a 7-11 record with the second-worst defense in the conference. The fear of repeating a losing season and the loss of Gach may inspire Coach Krystkowiak to experiment with the starting line-up that will result in some available minutes for 6’3 guard Ian Martinez, even if the minutes are off the bench.

The Utes have the fifth-ranked recruitment class (according to rivals) in the Pac-12 and Martinez is the first of two on this list. Martinez will be blocked from a starting role by Rylan Jones (9.6 PPG, 4.4 APG) at point guard, but with the transfer of Gach, there may be available minutes at off-guard.

There will also be a direct correlation between his playing time and his ability to play a more controlled style than he did at J Serra High School. His mid-range shooting ability is NCAA caliber, especially since he is able to use his dribble to get below the free-throw line. Martinez should have no trouble leap-frogging Jaxon Brenchley to take some minutes from Alfonso Plummer coming off the bench at point guard.

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