Utah Basketball Building New Identity Under Alex Jensen
Oct 1, 2025, 11:05 AM | Updated: 11:47 am
SALT LAKE CITY—When Alex Jensen took over in Salt Lake City, the first order of business was building a roster from scratch.
Only three players returned from last year’s team, but Utah still had to recruit them to even welcome them back. Jensen and general manager Wes Wilcox had to field a brand-new group.
The result? A roster heavy on athleticism and versatility—designed to match Jensen’s vision for a pro-style blueprint.
𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿: 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟮
𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺: @WAFDbankFull Episode 👇https://t.co/ko2Qw6vHsh pic.twitter.com/s69ap01LCE
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) August 21, 2025
Alex Jensen leaning into the “Runnin’ Utes” identity
Though very little basketball has been observed so far under Jensen, there is an identity Utah is looking to lean into, according to the players.
“Fast-paced, kind of similar to an NBA team type style of play,” forward Jakhi Howard shared. “We’re not the biggest team, but one of the fastest.”
“I think our identity as a team is going to be exciting, we’re going to play with grit,” forward Seydou Traore said. “We’re going to play hard, but it’s going to be one of those things we just got to wait and see.”
“I know a huge part of our identity that I can tell already is that we’re going to play pretty fast,” point guard Terrance Brown explained. “Knowing we’re in the Big 12, physicality is going to have to be one of those things as well.”
Jensen agreed with the overall sentiments from his plays, but reinforced a key element to the identity they want to build.
“One thing we have is speed, but I’ve told them that doesn’t mean shoot fast and stuff,” Jensen shared. “We can get the ball up the court and then make big decisions, good decisions.”
Jensen doesn’t want every possession scripted; instead, he wants to emphasize spacing, quick ball movement, and decision-making.
“One thing I want to emphasize is a lot of stuff off the ball, with everybody being able to pass it,” he continued. “At any level, the more you move, the more you screen, the more shots you get.”
Defensively, it will be all about switches, communication, effort, and team-rebounding. Without a true 7-footer, Utah will rely on collective rim protection and disciplined rotations to force opponents into tough shots.
Utah’s roster has a unique blend of experience
Nine of Utah’s players are transfers with multiple years of college basketball under their belts. A few were go-to scorers at their previous stops. That experience should help the Utes avoid the growing pains usually associated with a total rebuild.
The newcomers include Terrence Brown, who averaged over 20 points per game at Fairleigh Dickinson, and veteran crafty guard Don McHenry from Western Kentucky was a double-digit scorer as well.
Seydou Traoré brings Big Ten and MAAC experience, while Elijah Moore showcased some potential in his lone season at Syracuse. Add in Jahki Howard, a high-flying transfer from Auburn, and the Utes suddenly have some highlight-reel athleticism. Jamaes Okonkwo brings multiple seasons of experience at different levels of college basketball as well.
From abroad, Jacob Patrick arrives as a polished shooter out of Germany’s ProA league, while Obomate Abbey comes to Utah after a strong showing with the Finnish national team.
Utah’s lone returning starter, Keanu Dawes, provides continuity after a late-season breakout in which he averaged a double-double.
Depth comes from developmental players like Ibi Traore, Alvin Jackson, Kendyl Sanders, plus returnees Jerry Huang and Ibi Traoré, who should carve out rotational minutes as they grow.
Figuring out the starters, rotations will be a process
There is a lot to sort out over the next few weeks. Utah has to figure out who will be the starters and what the rotation will look like. That’s going to be a process for Jensen and his staff, but one they look forward to.
“The hardest part for a coach is rotations, who to play when” Jensen shared. “That’s one of the struggles, but it’s makes it fun at the same time. We don’t know who’s going to start, what the rotations will be, and it’s actually benn enjoyable because I like the group we have, and there are a lot of different combinations.”
Projected Starting Five
- Guard: Terrence Brown – primary scorer, shot creator
- Guard: Elijah Moore – shooter, secondary playmaker, steady ball handler
- Wing: Jahki Howard – athletic slasher, perimeter defender
- Forward: Keanu Dawes – versatile inside-out scorer, rebounding anchor
- Center: James Okonkwo – physical rebounder and interior defender
Bench Unit Players
- Guard: Don McHenry – primary scorer, shot creator
- Guard: Jacob Patrick – floor-spacing shooter
- Forward: Seydou Traoré – mismatch forward who can play the 3 or 4
- Center: Ibi Traore – athletic finisher and interior defender
- Forward: Josh Hayes – athletic finisher and interior defender
- Guard: Obomate Abbey – playmaker, 0n-ball defender
- Forward: Kendyl Sanders – freshman with length and defensive upside
- Forward: Alvin Jackson III – backcourt depth and energy
- Guard: Jerry Huang – backcourt depth and energy
In certain matchups, Jensen could downsize, using Dawes at the five with four guards/wings around him—maximizing speed, spacing, and switchability. Brown and McHenry could play together to give Utah multiple ball-handlers on the floor. Against more physical opponents, Okonkwo and Traore can anchor a bigger lineup.
The loss of Babacar Faye is a tough blow for this squad. He possessed the sort of size, athleticism, and diverse skillset that could have thrived in this setting.
Laying the foundation for Jensen’s Runnin’ Utes basketball
Utah fans should expect a team that looks different from years past: less scripted, more dynamic, and built on defensive grit.
Jensen and Wilcox have emphasized recruiting players who love the game and fit the culture, not just chasing talent for talent’s sake.
With a roster this versatile, Jensen has the tools to mold an identity that mirrors the modern NBA—positionless, competitive, and unafraid of the Big 12 grind.
With so many new faces, the Utes will need time to gel. However, Jensen’s vision will take hold over time, and this season will lay the foundation for a new era of Utah basketball—one defined as much by identity as results.
