Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak long ago pictured this happening. Rylan Jones will start for the Utes in their season opener Tuesday night at Nevada, about 8½ years after Krystkowiak moved his family to Utah and two of his sons connected with the point guard from Cache Valley on summer basketball teams.
Even then, as a preteen, Jones made an impression. “He's made teams better around him; he makes game-winning plays,” Krystkowiak said.
Chris Jones moved from an assistant coach's position at Utah State to become Utah's director of basketball operations in 2016. The timing allowed his son to be recruited by Krystkowiak, within NCAA rules regarding support staff members.