Utah State is getting a transfer from a Power 5 program, and it’s a familiar face in the state of Utah.
Rylan Jones, who’s played for the University of Utah the past two seasons, announced via social media Monday that he is headed to Logan to continue his college basketball career. The Deseret News reported Friday that Jones had entered the NCAA’s transfer portal.
Jones, the Deseret News’ 2018 Mr. Basketball and a four-star prospect out of Olympus High, started 43 games over his two seasons with the Utes. His best year came as a freshman, when Jones averaged 9.6 points, 4.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game in 2019-20.
Those numbers dipped during his sophomore season last year, when Jones missed eight games with a shoulder injury.
There’s been multiple players switching between the Utah and Utah State programs, with former Aggie coach Craig Smith replacing Larry Krystkowiak as the Utes’ coach. Jones’ addition at Utah State helps offset the loss of a pair of guards, Marco Anthony and Rollie Worster, who followed Smith to Utah.
Jones joins new coach Ryan Odom’s program, along with a pair of UMBC players — guard R.J. Eytle-Rock and forward Brandon Horvath — who followed Odom from UMBC.