THE TWO UTES
Krystkowiak’s Utah program a breeding ground for Raptors
SALT LAKE CITY — Not since Joe Pesci made Utes part of movie folklore in My
Cousin Vinny has there been so much conversation concerning a few other Utes.
A pair of Raptors, Delon Wright and Jakob Poeltl, as well as Kyle Kuzma of the L.A. Lakers, are all products of Larry Krystkowiak’s University of Utah Runnin’ Utes program. The trio is just now getting their feet wet in the NBA.
In a breakout year for young talent, Wright, Poeltl and Kuzma are getting plenty of attention. If not for a torn ACL suffered by OJ Anunoby, all three could be playing for the Raptors.
Kuzma, the latest Ute to make it to the Association, had a very solid workout in Toronto prior to the draft and was right in the Raptors’ wheelhouse in terms of where he was going to be selected and when Toronto was picking.
Raptors president Masai Ujiri confirmed before the Raptors recent game in Los Angeles that, had Anunoby not still been around on draft night when the Toronto pick arrived, Kuzma would have been their selection.
Wright recalls members of the organization asking him about Kuzma, his good friend, for about a month prior to the draft, confirming the interest was very real.
“That’s pretty crazy,” Krystkowiak says over the phone. “I love the way Toronto plays but from a selfish point of view it’s nice to get one of those guys in the Western Conference so we can see them more than once a year. That would have been unbelievable to have them all together, but I’m just thrilled that they are all in the league and they are all in places that are real positive places.”
That game versus the Lakers last Friday actually saw four Utes reunited, with Poeltl, Wright, Kuzma and current Raptors development coach Jarred DuBois — the eldest of Krystkowiak’s products and the one who initially put Utah on Wright’s radar — share a pre-game chat courtside.
Wright’s primary focus coming out of junior college was to land a spot on the University of Washington Huskies squad. But, when Nigel Williams-Goss received an offer from the Huskies, Wright remembered DuBois’ suggestion.
The fact that Utah was coming off a six-win season didn’t dampen Wright’s enthusiasm for the program. In fact, it enhanced his drive.
“That was a positive,” Wright said. “If I came there and we started to win I felt like it would look positively on myself. It was a risk, but that was the kind of person I was. I wanted to go somewhere where I could help them win, not to an established program.”
Wright won 21 games in 2013-14, his freshman year at Utah under Krystkowiak’s tutelage, but there was still something missing. Towards the end of his first year, Wright had coaches telling him not to worry. They had good line on an incoming big who would solve a lot of Utah’s problems.
“The coaches told me we have a big coming in who is going to able to catch my passes and finish,” Wright said. “That was my issue my first year. No one would finish my assists. That was the selling point on (Poeltl) and, once he showed up for his visit, I was really impressed. He’s had great hands since I met him.”
Poeltl’s recruitment began with Utah assistant Andy Hill spotting him at the European under-18 championships. Two visits to Vienna by Krystkowiak — one to meet Poeltl and introduce himself, the second visit with Krystkowiak and his wife who came over to meet Poeltl’s parents — finished the job.
Initially, Poeltl had no idea that Krystkowiak played and coached in the NBA or that he ran an NBAstyle pro set offence. It took only one look at the 6-foot10 coach on that first visit to figure one thing out.
“Having a big man head coach, it can’t be a bad thing for me in that situation,” Poeltl said.
Wright was well aware of the pro set Krystkowiak’s Runnin’ Utes ran and knew it would be beneficial in terms of a quick adaptation to the NBA. So, that was a factor for him too.
Krystkowiak enjoyed every minute he had with his future Raptors, but can’t help wondering what if on occasion.
“The only thing I’m a little seflish about when I think back, but I wonder what if I had Delon in his senior year and Jakob in his sophomore year,” he said. “I think they had both grown so much and Delon played with Jakob in his freshman year and I think it could have been an incredible tandem.”
Instead he has to make do catching them on TV, or in the case of tonight’s game, in person as they grow together under the Raptors’ coaching staff.