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Blake Wilkinson grew up a Ute, now he has an opportunity to grow as one, also.
The walk-on already this fall has players and coaches around the Utah men's basketball program murmuring that the 6-foot-6 freshman forward from Viewmont High School will be an impact player.
"He's pretty skilled," first-year coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "He's going to play some minutes."
At Viewmont last year, Wilkinson averaged 18 points per game. While returners David Foster and Jason Washburn, as well as junior college transfer Javon Dawson, are expected to get most of the time in the post, Wilkinson may have the most polished offensive game of any of them.
But Wilkinson said scoring isn't his priority right now.
"I want to be the tough guy who goes for every rebound," he said. "I'm not looking to score; in high school, I had to look to score every time. I need to set the hardest picks, I need to be the hardest worker."
Wilkinson said he plans to go on an LDS Church mission after this season. Before walking on with the Utes, he had offers from Big Sky Conference schools, and was recruited heavily by Salt Lake Community College coach Norm Parrish — now Utah's director of basketball operations.
Viewmont coach Jeff Emery watched from the sidelines Thursday as Wilkinson grappled with Foster and Washburn in full-court drills, fighting both for position on the floor and, really, on the team.
"That's all you can ask for," Emery said, "is the opportunity."
Krystkowiak said Wilkinson has been solid in practice, but with 13 new players on the 17-man team, he said the freshman hasn't exceeded expectations.
"We've never really had any expectations to be honest," Krystkowiak said. "We're not surprised by anybody and nobody's penciled in. He's done a good enough job to earn minutes."
Revamped team, revamped gym
The Utes held their first official practice Thursday in HPER 109, the big underground box of a gym adjacent to the Huntsman Center. Over the summer, though, the old room got a face-lift. A new court was put in and the walls are wrapped in red and black, with images of players, team records, and Utah fans along the walls.
The gym serves as the Utes' practice facility when the Huntsman Center court is occupied. With plans on the table for a basketball-specific facility on the west side of the HPER building, the remodeled gym is viewed as a temporary facility.
"This is going to be a nice facility in the meantime for us," Krystkowiak said. "But that's one area that could probably be upgraded. And I think it's going to happen in the near future."
Coach to coach
California coach Mike Montgomery will miss time with the Bears after successfully undergoing an undisclosed surgical procedure, according to reports. Montgomery was the head coach at the University of Montana when Krystkowiak played there in the 1970s.
Krystkowiak said he has spoken to his mentor to wish him well.
The Utes play at Cal on Jan. 14 and host the Golden Bears on Feb. 23. Krystkowiak said he hasn't given much thought to coaching against Montgomery.
"It's going to be kind of neat," he said, "but that's about as much as a guy can think about that."
Twitter: @oramb