SALT LAKE CITY—Alex Jensen and his Utah basketball program have secured German guard Jacob Patrick, becoming the 10th addition to the new Runnin’ Utes roster.
Patrick is a valuable addition to the roster as he addresses a much-needed presence as a shooter. He also alleviates some of the depth in the backcourt.
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Jacob Patrick has signed with the Runnin’ Utes
This is a significant addition for Utah, as Patrick has played professionally since he was 15 years old. Utah welcomes a career 36% 3-point shooter, in which he’s operated primarily as an off-ball catch-and-shoot option. Jensen needed a floor spacer, and Patrick is expected to provide that presence.
Patrick has spent the past five seasons with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga, where he’s competed against older players and even former college basketball stars. This past season, he averaged 9.6 points in 23 minutes of action.
At the very least, Patrick’s presence as a shooter should help provide gravity to the perimeter to open up the floor. Patrick will be an older player and given his professional experience, should be able to make a significant impact.
Alex Jensen and staff continue to build out the 2025-26 roster
He joins Elmeri Abbey, Babacar Faye, Don McHenry, Seydou Traore, Jakhi Howard, Elijah Moore, James Okonkwo, Kendyl Sanders, and Terrence Brown as Utah’s offseason additions.
That brings Utah’s roster to a total of 13 players, leaving two open spots. The Runnin’ Utes have added some solid pieces and must continue to secure players who will help them compete in the Big 12 next season.
More importantly, though, Utah should focus on players who have room, in terms of potential and eligibility, to grow under Jensen and his staff.
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Setting the foundation: Utah’s culture starts with defense
Roster building is urgent—but culture is permanent. Jensen isn’t just recruiting players. He’s building a program, and that starts with identity. For Utah, that identity will start on the defensive end.
“I want to build something, I don’t want to build a new team every year, but build some continuity that way,” Alex Jensen said in an interview with NCAA reporter Andy Katz.
“Watching Houston make their run, Kelvin [Sampson] does such a good job, he gets his guys to play so hard,” Jensen shared. “That’s something the assistants I’ve hired talk about. That’s who we measure ourselves to and we’ve got to get kids that are tough like that and compete like them.”
In Jensen’s vision, the Runnin’ Utes will be a disciplined, gritty, tough, defensive-minded program. Think closeouts with purpose. Rotations with urgency. Contests without fouling. Utah isn’t going to outgun everyone—they’ll out-tough them.
Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.
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