Report: Utah G Pelle Larsson Transferring To Arizona
May 9, 2021, 10:30 AM
Utah Utes guard Pelle Larsson (3) dunks ahead of Idaho State Bengals forward Kyle Karstetter (14) in a nonconference basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah freshman guard Pelle Larsson has reportedly transferred to the University of Arizona after one season with the Runnin’ Utes.
When reports came out that Pelle Larsson was entering the transfer portal, there was still a chance he could return to Utah. Not only is Larsson not returning to Utah but he is staying in the Pac-12 and will join the Arizona Wildcats.
Arizona has a new head coach after the program fired Sean Miller following a decade-long stint in Tucson. They hired longtime Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd to run the historic basketball program at Arizona.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported the news of Larsson joining Arizona.
Utah transfer Pelle Larsson has committed to Arizona, a source told ESPN. The Swedish guard, a versatile defender and passer who shot 46% for 3 last season, picked the Wildcats over the likes of Kansas, Stanford, Creighton and others. Has four years of eligibility remaining.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 9, 2021
Givony also reported that Kansas, Stanford and Creighton were among the teams heavily pursuing Larsson.
The Nacka, Sweden native started in 18 of the 25 games he played in, while averaging 8.2 points and 3.2 assists. He shot 46 percent from the field, 46 percent from the three-point line and 88 percent at the free throw line, missing just seven free throws.
Larsson had tremendous upside with the Utes due to his ability to run an offense as a point guard, while shooting the ball like a two-guard and even playing the three if they wanted to play a three-guard lineup due to his 6’5 frame.
Since Craig Smith took over as head coach, Utah has seen seven players leave the program. Of those seven players, Larsson is the only one staying in the Pac-12. Timmy Allen (Texas), Ian Martinez (Maryland), Alfonso Plummer (Illinois), Jordan Kellier (Siena), Mikael Jantunen (going pro) and Rylan Jones (undecided; reportedly to Utah State) have gone elsewhere.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
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