Aggies showcase length, depth at open practice
The Utah State men’s basketball team held its first open practice of the summer at 7 a.m. on June 24, giving fans and media their first look at a roster that has undergone some transformation in head coach Jerrod Calhoun’s second year at the helm.
The most immediate takeaway was the team’s size and length. Nearly every position featured longer, more athletic players than last season, a clear emphasis for Calhoun and his staff in offseason recruiting. That length was evident defensively throughout practice as the Aggies generated numerous deflections, forced turnovers and played with physicality.
“I think we’re very, very deep. We’re very fast and very versatile,” Calhoun said. “You saw the size, the length, the talent. I think our early morning starts have been really, really good.”
There were certainly a few sloppy stretches on offense, something to be expected with so many new faces, but the overall energy and competitiveness were high throughout the session. Returning all-conference guard Mason Falslev led vocally, often directing teammates and encouraging communication.
“I’m very surprised with how solid our team is,” Falslev said. “I don’t want to jinx anything, but I think we’ve got some pretty good depth this year. I wouldn’t want to be in coach’s position right now because it’s going to be hard to pick and choose who’s going to play and who will end up not playing.”
Falslev is one of the key returners, along with sophomore guard Jordy Barnes, junior wing Tucker Anderson, junior forward Karson Templin and graduate guard Drake Allen. Around them, Utah State has added a number of new contributors.
Among the guards are senior transfers Kolby King and MJ Collins Jr., two players who could make an instant impact. King, known for his rebounding at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, adds toughness in the backcourt. Collins is an aggressive scorer who can shoot from deep or finish at the rim. Allen is another steady offensive presence, and first-year students Brayden Boe and Elijah Perryman showed some playmaking ability in their first open session.
“So far it’s [been] great just getting the basics down and playing for the team,” King said. “Coach Calhoun and the staff had a vision for me here, and they said it would be a great fit for me.”
The wings include Anderson, who has added nearly 20 pounds of muscle since last season and remains a reliable three-point shooter, and first-year students Adlan Elamin and Kingston Tosi. Elamin and Tosi stand out with their size, 6-foot-9 and 6-foot-7, respectively, and two-way potential.
“[Anderson] has done a tremendous job,” Calhoun said. “My wife saw him probably two weeks ago and said, ‘Wow, it looked like he grew,’ but he really just grew outwards — he did not grow upwards. We’re expecting big things out of Tuck.”
Tucker Anderson (2) shoots a 3-point shot at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Nov. 13.
The frontcourt offers variety in skill sets and body types. Zach Keller, a 6-foot-10 senior transfer from Utah, showed his ability to post up and hit from outside. Templin, who returns from last year’s team, brings physicality and rebounding. Junior transfer Luke Kearney shot the ball well in practice, and first-year student David Iweze and sophomore Garry Clark provide additional size and mobility.
“David Iweze is going to be a guy who has an unbelievable career here,” Calhoun said. “He has real size. Garry Clark is a kind of sneaky type of guy. He’s stronger than he looks.”
One notable guest at the practice was NBA guard and former Utah State star Sam Merrill, who arrived at 5:45 a.m. to work out and stayed to observe the team. Calhoun highlighted Merrill’s influence, calling his presence a great example for the team.
“I sent a video to the Cavs general manager [Koby Altman] and said, ‘There’s not too many players in the NBA that grind like Sam Merrill,’” Calhoun said.
Calhoun also praised the early buy-in from the freshmen and the leadership of returning players. Though roles are still developing and personalities are gelling, the new group has shown commitment and consistency since they first stepped on the court three weeks ago.
“Our guys are getting up at 6 a.m., and we’re in the gym by seven or the weight room by seven,” Calhoun said. “It’s been really, really good to see everybody on time.”
For Calhoun and his team, there’s still plenty of business to be done, including finalizing the non-conference schedule, which he says should be completed within a week or so.
“The formula is four to five quad one, quad twos at our level,” Calhoun said. “We will be announcing probably the last two or three here in the next week, but there’s going to be a really, really good schedule ahead of us.”
The group of players who have made their way to Logan came together to form a team with physical specimens and hard-nosed competitors. While this may still be the honeymoon phase for the athletically supercharged Aggies, the energy and excitement among players and staff were palpable from the moment the gym lights flicked on early Tuesday morning.