By Bill Oram

| The Salt Lake Tribune

If Parker Van Dyke ever plays for the Utah basketball team, it won’t be for about four years. First comes his last year of high school at East, then two years on an LDS Church mission.

But before all that, will come Van Dyke’s decision, which, by the way, he’s in no hurry to make. He was more concerned Tuesday with preparing for East’s final regular season game against Cyprus.

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"I’m just enjoying the process of getting recruited," the combo guard said. "My main focus is my high school season, and once that ends I’ll start to seriously think about where I’m going to go."

If Van Dyke ever plays for Larry Krystkowiak at Utah, it will mean the coach outlasted either of his two predecessors in the position. Needless to say, Krystkowiak has more pressing concerns to get the program from here to there, but Van Dyke represents an important piece of the Utes’ recruiting puzzle.

He has offers from Utah State, Arizona State and the Utes, but Van Dyke is the kind of player the Utes, on paper, should get. He grew up just above Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, on the edges of the University of Utah campus. Since childhood, he’s watched the Utes from courtside seats, thanks to his grandfather’s status as a member of the Crimson Club, and estimated he has attended 80 percent of the team’s games this season.

"Going out watching Utah basketball," Van Dyke said, "there’s been times I’ve dreamed of playing at the Huntsman Center."

Yet, the Utes have little more than a home-field advantage with Van Dyke, who said he is completely undecided and wants to make a decision in May or June, although he is receiving interest from Stanford, which could push back the process.

"I kind of like all my options right now," he said.

The Utes (5-21, 2-12) are having one of the worst seasons in program history, but Van Dyke said that has not hurt Utah’s chances in his recruitment.

"I realize that it’s a rebuilding year, new conference, new coaches," he said. "I like my other options as well, but this season doesn’t affect my decision at all."

Free throw woes

First the Utes couldn’t make free throws, now they are lucky to get to shoot them.

Each Utah player shoots 100 free throws in practice, but they may not attempt that many in the final third of their season. In their last three games, the Utes have been accurate, making 19 of 21 free throws, but in those three games their opponents have averaged 21 attempts.

Saturday’s 55-48 home loss to Colorado was the most severe example. The Utes attempted just three free throws, while the Buffaloes made 15 of 19.

The disparity left the Utes bewildered.

"I think we went to the rack hard," guard Chris Hines said. "I don’t know if we just didn’t get a lot of contact going in there?"