How the Runnin’ Utes roster is shaping up for the 2026-27 season

Utah basketball 2026-27 roster

**As of April 21**

Projecting the starting lineup and second unit

Though there’s still plenty of time for roster changes before the season starts, here’s my best guess at what the rotation could look like with this group:

• **PG:** Yaacov, Burch
• **SG:** Chatman, Langartia
• **SF:** Holcombe, Anigbata
• **PF:** Faye, Loubaki
• **C:** Schott, Gomma **Bench depth:** Abbey, Katoa, Johnson, Clemmons, McHaney With the roster now assembled, it’s clear that Jensen and his staff built it with a purpose and vision in mind. At least on paper, there are a lot of complementary pieces, with multiple high-level defenders and efficient shooters. Those were luxuries that Utah struggled to put together last season, after the Utes played catch-up on the recruiting trail. Utah’s staff also leaned heavily into its international ties to find talent. A season to refine their recruiting vision — with general manager Wes Wilcox leading that task — has culminated in a group that appears to live up to the phrase, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” There will be more versatility on this roster, which should help offset the losses of guys like Terrence Brown and Keanu Dawes, along with other veterans like Don McHenry and Seydou Traore. The glaring issue with the roster is the lack of height at center — no expected rotation player stands taller than 6-foot-9 — and that will put the onus on guys like Faye and Gomma, the most experienced post veterans, to set the physical tone.

  

  Western Kentucky forward Babacar Faye (5) shoots over Marquette forward David Joplin (23) in a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Friday, March 22, 2024, in Indianapolis, Ind. | Michael Conroy Point guard has a pair of intriguing starting options, and perhaps the best way to look at it is that Yaacov and Burch could be interchangeable, given the situation. Yaacov has a well-rounded offensive game and Burch showed at Wright State he’s a two-way playmaker as a scorer and defender. With guys like Holcombe, Chatman, Anigbata, Langarita and Loubaki, there’s versatility for guys to be interchangeable at a variety of positions from two to four, and Schott has a solid offensive game. Can this group mesh together better than last season’s roster? That’s the big question, and while the Utes aren’t likely to be in serious contention for an NCAA Tournament appearance just yet, there’s a healthy mix of younger and older players on this roster to help establish continuity. There’s more interchangeability in the backcourt, but the front court could be bolstered if Johnson is able to shake off the mission rust and contribute as a freshman. Last season, Kendyl Sanders was expected to redshirt, but after Faye’s season-ending injury, Sanders was a heavy contributor as a stretch four. The opportunity might be there for Johnson to fill a similar role. This group, though, follows the vision that Jensen shared with the Deseret News near the end of the season. “A lot of teams have success with that stronger undersized guy that’s just physical, and I think that’s one thing that we’ve talked about — getting physical, whether it’s defensively, whether it’s at the rim or on the perimeter," he said.

  

  Utah head coach Alex Jensen calls out to his players during an NCAA basketball game against BYU held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News