Local star Wahlin signs with BYU

PROVO, Utah – BYU men’s basketball coach Mark Pope announced today that Jake Wahlin has signed a scholarship agreement to play for the Cougars. 

“Jake Wahlin is an incredibly intriguing young player who comes from a great family,” said Pope. “His length, height, mobility and ball-handling skills make him extremely versatile with a spectacularly high ceiling. Whether he becomes a 6-foot-8 point guard or a power forward, he has the potential to have a massive impact on BYU basketball. He is also very tough and not afraid of a challenge, and we are very excited to welcome him into the program.”

Originally from Keller, Texas, the 6-foot-8 guard/forward averaged 13.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game as a junior at Timpview High School in Provo last season, while leading the T-Birds to a runner-up finish at the Utah 5A State Championships. In 52 career games during his sophomore and junior seasons at Timpview, Wahlin has averaged 9.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest.

An All-State selection by the Deseret News as a junior, Wahlin was named the No. 2 player in the state of Utah by PrepHoops for 2021 and the third-best prospect in Utah by 247Sports. A Top 150 recruit by Rivals and three-star prospect according to 247Sports, Wahlin picked BYU over Arizona State, San Diego State, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah State among others.

Wahlin comes from a long line of collegiate athletes. His father Rick played football at BYU in the late 1980s and his sister Malery was a setter on the BYU women’s volleyball team that played Penn State for the NCAA Championship in 2014. His grandfather Marvin was a halfback at Arizona State in the early 1950s and two of his brothers-in-law are former Cougar football stars Harvey Langi and Colby Pearson.

“I’m stoked to play for Coach Pope and his staff,” said Wahlin. “Their energy and passion is something that I’ve been attracted to from the beginning. I can’t wait to be a part of the BYU basketball program. Living down the road from BYU, I’ve been to games and love the energy of the fans. The atmosphere is one of the best in the country and I look forward to playing in front of the ROC.”

A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Wahlin plans to serve a church mission before enrolling at BYU. He hopes to leave next summer and be back in time for the 2023-24 season.