JC transfers should provide immediate help

Give the Utah basketball coaches some credit for picking up a pair of junior college players that should help the team immediately next year.
The Utes are expected to get a letter of intent today from Josh Watkins, the point guard from Howard College in Texas, later today, a week after signing Will Clyburn from Marshalltown CC in Iowa. Watkins led his team to the NJCAA title last month and earned MVP honors. The Ute coaches worked hard to get both players over schools such as Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Saint Louis.
Both players could jump into starting roles with the Utes, who are in need of a point guard to replace Luka Drca and a wing player to replace Marshall Henderson.
Nick Thompson, a 6-8 forward from College of Eastern Utah that the Utes were recruiting, signed with Oklahoma a few days ago. He had moved to Utah from Oklahoma during high school when he played at Clearfield High.
The Utes aren’t likely to sign another player this spring, meaning they should have one more scholarship to use next year when they lose just one senior, forward Jay Watkins.