MOUNT PLEASANT — It would be an understatement to suggest Caleb Lohner didn’t exactly form a positive opinion of Utah upon first introductions. But over time, and after closer and more meaningful inspection, the highly recruited 6-foot-9 Texas native has found a home in both the state and at the University of Utah.
Lohner signed with the Utes in November 2019, after first committing this past August in a move that wasn’t even in the realm of possibility throughout a large portion of his recruitment.
“If you told me that I’d end up signing with Utah, or even staying in Utah a year ago — I would have said you were crazy,” Lohner said.
“I remember telling (Utah assistant coach) Tommy Connor that they were way, way too late to get in with Caleb. But they kept trying and sure enough, he ended up loving it up there.” — Wasatch Academy coach Dave Evans
Indeed, Lohner’s first reaction to arriving at Wasatch Academy in January 2019 was a slice of major culture shock, considering what he’d grown accustomed to, having spent his entire life growing up in Dallas. Mount Pleasant, where Wasatch Academy is located, houses just 3,418 residents, or several hundred less than the total student enrollment at Flower Mound High, where Lohner attended before deciding to transfer to Wasatch Academy.
“I was like, ‘Are you serious? What is this?,’” Lohner said of his first glimpse at his new school and town. “I mean, I knew it was going to be a lot different, but really? I wasn’t ready for that, and it took some time to adjust. No doubt.”
The reason Lohner found his way to Wasatch Academy was almost entirely due to the program’s coach, Dave Evans, whom Lohner is related to — referring to the former Lone Peak coach as “Uncle.”
Evans has gathered some of the top talent nationally to Wasatch Academy, and Lohner was a natural fit, considering his apparent talent and work ethic.
“The thing that makes him so special is that he really does move like a guard, being as tall as he is, and as big as he is,” Evans said. “He already has a strong body, unlike a lot of top high school players, and he really works hard to get better.”
Lohner served notice as a top basketball prospect early on in the process after impressing coaches at Baylor enough that they offered him a scholarship after his freshman year. It wasn’t soon after when other programs fell in line, including BYU — the same program where his father, Matt Lohner played.
Caleb Lohner had BYU as a top option upon transferring, with Utah not even under consideration.
“I just didn’t want anything to do with Utah, to be honest,” Lohner said. “I had all the offers I needed, I thought, and I was just always sort of a BYU guy, growing up, because my dad played there and all that. So no, Utah wasn’t even an option for me through most of it. I just never gave them a chance through most of it.”
But Utah didn’t give up, and kept making phone calls.
“I remember telling (Utah assistant coach) Tommy Connor that they were way, way too late to get in with Caleb,” Evans said. “But they kept trying and sure enough, he ended up loving it up there.”
As Utah’s interest increased, Lohner already held offers from most Big 12 programs, along with a handful of other notable programs, such as Michigan State. But through Connor’s persistence, among other factors, Lohner finally agreed to take an unofficial visit with the program quickly rising to top consideration.
“I kept seeing Utah coaches at some of the camps I’d attend over the summer and just decided I owed it to them to at least give them a look,” Lohner said. “So I went up there and I was just blown away and really, really liked everything about the school, but especially the coaches there.”
Of course Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak was the one making perhaps the strongest impression.
“I loved how honest he was with me through all of it,” Lohner said. “He told me straight up that I’d be given nothing at Utah, but would have to work for everything I got. I love that and really formed an instant connection with him. It was really refreshing. All of it.”
Lohner followed up the unofficial visit with an official visit in early August before firmly deciding to commit.
“Utah is building a great program there with a lot of great players coming in. I believe I’ll be joining at the start of something really special up there and I just can’t wait to be a part of all of it.” — Caleb Lohner
“Utah is building a great program there with a lot of great players coming in,” Lohner said. “I believe I’ll be joining at the start of something really special up there and I just can’t wait to be a part of all of it.”
Lohner is part of the highly regarded 2019-20 class, which includes three four-star recruits and includes top prospects like guard Ian Martinez from Southern California and Mason Falslev from Sky View High. Lohner himself is regarded a four-star prospect and ranked the No. 72 prospect nationally by ESPN.
As for his initial stark impressions of Wasatch Academy, those have changed, as well.
“I won’t say I’ve completely adjusted to it even now, but it has been really, really good for me to have the experience,” he said. “I’ve grown so much over the past year or so, in ways I just couldn’t have otherwise. It’s been great taking on the challenge and growing from it.”
Evans has had a front seat for Lohner’s Wasatch Academy experience, and has noted a lot of positive developments.
“He’s just a great, great kid and we’ve loved having him here in so many ways,” Evans said. “He’s a leader and has really embraced that role and our players just love being around him. He’s also an incredibly hard worker, which I don’t think most realize because of how naturally talented he is. I just couldn’t be more excited for him and the great future ahead of him.”