Utah forward transfers to Utah State to walk on in 2002
The University of Utah’s Mike Puzey will practice in the Spectrum next year. The first thing he might work on is tipping the basketball.
His missed tip at the buzzer of the USU-Utah game and gave the Aggies a 58-57 win.
“Now you know why I missed it,” Puzey joked.
The Roy native, who has one more year of eligibility left, will practice with Stew Morrill’s team next year, but will not be able to play until the 2002-03 season because of NCAA rules. Also, because the Aggies have used up their scholarships, Puzey will have to walk on.
“I’ll get to learn what it’s like to be a normal student,” he said.
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward averaged 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 8.5 minutes through an injured season. He red-shirted with the Utes in 1996-97, went on a for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission before playing from 1999-01. Puzey said he left for personal reasons.
Puzey is friends with current Aggies Brennen Ray and Chad Evans. He visited USU and liked the coaching staff right away.
“I’m really impressed with coach Morrill and [Randy] Rahe,” he said. “They are really down-to-earth guys. It was refreshing to talk to coaches that were excited as much as me.”
The transfer also fits for him academically because his credits all transfer. He is a physical therapy major who wants to go into education.
In addition, he has a lot of connections to Utah State. His grandfather, John Broberg, and uncle, Bill Puzey, both played basketball as Aggies and his sister, Kathy Puzey, played volleyball. He also spent several summer weekends in Cache Valley, he said.
“It’s home for me,” Puzey said. “I grew up an Aggie.”