Utah basketball signs 2027 commits Pierce Thompson, Jamaal McKnight Jr.
Nov 11, 2026, 2:52 PM | Updated: 3:00 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah basketball made two pieces of its future backcourt official Wednesday, announcing the signings of Pierce Thompson and Jamaal McKnight Jr. in its 2027 recruiting class.
The pair gives head coach Alex Jensen two different guard profiles to develop: Thompson, a bigger perimeter scorer with international experience, and McKnight, a four-star point guard who chose the Utes over a finalist group that included Kansas.
Thompson committed in September, becoming Utah’s first commitment in the class. McKnight followed in October after an official visit to Salt Lake City. Their signings turn those fall recruiting victories into additions for the 2027-28 season.
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Pierce Thompson brings shooting, international experience
Thompson, a 6-foot-4 guard from Harvard-Westlake in Southern California, gives Utah a prospect whose shooting could help create space for the rest of the offense.
The three-star recruit developed into a larger role at Harvard-Westlake through his defense and 3-point shooting. His offensive appeal includes the ability to work away from the ball, find openings as a cutter and attack defenders closing out to contest his shot.
LA ➡️ SLC
Welcome to the Runnin’ Utes family, @PierceThompson_ ‼️
#GoUtes https://t.co/6rpGxfZOu4
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 11, 2026
Those traits offer a path to contributing alongside a primary ballhandler without needing to dominate possessions.
Thompson also has experience shouldering more responsibility. He led Austria with 14.4 points per game at this summer’s FIBA U18 EuroBasket, reaching double figures in six of seven games while averaging 29.1 minutes.
His recruitment included offers from Mississippi State, Cal, Loyola Chicago, St. Bonaventure, Yale and Harvard. For Utah, the next step will be developing the strength and consistency needed to translate that scoring ability to Big 12 competition.
Jamaal McKnight Jr. adds a point guard with strong recruiting interest
McKnight committed Oct. 27, choosing Utah over Kansas, UNLV and Boise State.
The Iowa United Prep guard built a strong connection with assistant coach Raphael Chillious, whose work in the recruitment helped establish trust with Utah’s staff.
“The biggest reason is because of how family oriented Utah is,” McKnight previously told KSL Sports.
DMV ➡️ SLC
Welcome to the Runnin’ Utes family, @jamaalmcknight3 ‼️
#GoUtes https://t.co/eUf2uwnlmv
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 11, 2026
McKnight also valued the coaches’ willingness to identify areas of his game that needed improvement. Their pitch included a development plan and an honest assessment of how he could become a better player.
McKnight averaged 14.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 20 games for Team Durant during the 2026 EYBL Season. Providing Jensen with a guard who has experience balancing scoring and playmaking against high-level prep competition.
A Maryland native, McKnight played his first two high school seasons at DeMatha Catholic before transferring to Long Island Lutheran for his junior year. He moved to Iowa United Prep ahead of his senior season and has competed with Team Durant on the Nike EYBL circuit.
Utah’s professional coaching experience also appealed to McKnight, who viewed the staff’s NBA backgrounds as valuable preparation for his own ambitions.
