LOS ANGELES — Former UCLA and NBA star Bill Walton had positive things to say about the Utah Utes and center Jakob Poeltl before calling Thursday’s game for ESPN2.
“I love all things Utah and what Larry Krystkowiak has meant to that program is just absolutely incredible and I’m huge fan. I’ve known Larry forever and his whole story,” Walton said from his seat mid-court at Pauley Pavilion. “His ability to help Jakob Poeltl grow and develop is just instrumental and so Jakob has unlimited talent. He can do everything. It’s what he chooses to do with that talent.”
Walton said the latter will take a tremendous amount of everything he has.
“But he has the physical package. He has the mind. He has the heart. He has all the human values and personal characteristics to be a champion and he’s in an incredibly positive and supportive and nurturing environment,” Walton continued. “So it’s all right there for Jakob and now he’s got to make it happen. There’s no guarantees.”
As far as Poeltl’s expected move from the college to pro ranks at season’s end, Walton noted that the 7-foot sophomore was making a big jump on Thursday against a very good UCLA team.
“It’s going to be tough,” Walton said. “But he’s got excellent teammates and to play last year against Dallin Bachynski and Jeremy Olsen every day was very instrumental.”
Walton mentioned that in his days at UCLA he had Swen Nater to go against every day in practice.
“It takes everything — his parents, athletic director, school president, community, the coach, the teammates, the trainer,” Walton added about Poeltl. “It’s all right there for Jakob. He has to know it because you’ll never learn what you don’t want to know, and then you’ve got to go get it and not wait for the game of life to fall in your lap.”
HILL ON THE TRIP: Utah athletics director Dr. Chris Hill is making his annual Pac-12 road trip with the team. While in Los Angeles on Thursday, Hill met with UnderArmour officials. There’s an exclusive window the Utes have to speak with UnderArmour about their sponsorship deal that ends in about 18 months.
“Everybody’s been happy with it,” Hill said of the current agreement.
EXTRA STUFF: The Naismith Award, presented each year to the nation’s top college basketball player, was on display as part of its trophy tour. Two past winners attended the game — Walton (1972-73-74) and Marques Johnson (1977), who was the Bruins’ honorary captain. UCLA’s other winner was Lew Alcindor (1969). Utah’s Andrew Bogut won the award in 2005 . . .Faces in the crowd included former Utah star Jerry Chambers, who was the Most Outstanding Player in the 1966 NCAA tournament after scoring a record 143 points over four games . . . The Pac-12 entered Thursday’s game leading the nation in scoring average (77.22 ppg), rebound average (38.4 rpg) and block average (4.6 bpg).
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