Prep Basketball: Utes, Cougs Offer PG's Wilcox
With 10 Utah high school boys basketball players having signed with Division I programs last week, local college coaches are starting to turn their attention to the class of 2009 -- this year's juniors.
I checked out Tuesday night's Pleasant Grove-at-Alta game, and sure enough, BYU assistant Dave Rice and University of Utah assistant Chris Jones were in the stands just a row away from each other.
Both were there, presumably, to watch Pleasant Grove junior C.J. Wilcox, a 6-foot-5 wing player with smooth moves, loads of athleticism and a velvety shooting touch. That's why I was there, too.
Wilcox didn't disappoint, although he picked up three first-half fouls and spent most of the first 24 minutes on the bench.
He scored 18 of his game-high 22 points in the second half with an array of three-pointers, a dunk and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.
After the game, I spoke briefly with Wilcox about his recruitment.
Oddly, he said he didn't notice the college coaches in the stands.
"Didn't see them," he said. "Wasn't really looking for them."
Wilcox did confirm that Utah and BYU have already offered scholarships.
His father, Craig Wilcox, played shooting guard for BYU and coach Roger Reid in 1994 and 1995 (the same years as Reid's sons, Randy and Robbie). But C.J. Wilcox, 16, said that will have little impact when he makes his college choice.
"I'm not leaning any way right now," he said. "I'm just waiting until next year, and we will see what happens then. I'm just focusing on high school right now."
The junior also said that he hasn't ruled out going to an out-of-state school.
"Right now, it really doesn't matter," he said. "I am just going to see what is best for me, and go in that direction."
Along with Lone Peak guard Tyler Haws, who has also been offered by BYU and Utah, Wilcox is generally regarded as one of the top two junior prospects in the state.
Provo's Brandon Davies and Lone Peak's Nate Austin are also members of the class of 2009 that college coaches have interest in.
Coincidentally, Haws' father, Marty Haws, the former BYU standout, showed up unannounced at Utah's practice on Tuesday to visit with coach Jim Boylen.
