Nate Austin, a 6-foot-10 center at Lone Peak High, has pledged to sign a letter-of-intent to play college basketball at BYU, according to his coach Quincy Lewis.

Austin, who just finished his junior year, played a backup role on a senior-laden state championship team this past season that featured three players who have received Division I scholarships.

Austin will finish his senior year at Lone Peak, serve a two-year mission, then enroll at BYU with a full ride, said Lewis. "He was just beginning to receive a lot of recruiting attention when he made this decision," said Lewis.

"If he had played in Las Vegas last July, he'd have had all kinds of attention this past year, even in his limited role. But when he turned a lot of heads this April against tough competition with a lot of college recruiters present, it really opened things up."

Austin had one game in Las Vegas this past April in which he scored 24 points and 22 rebounds "against a legitimate team."

Lewis said Austin had his first offer from Utah State and had contact from Utah. "I think they would have offered him also," said Lewis. "When we got back from Las Vegas last month, we started receiving more phone calls from programs."

Austin averaged 10 to 15 minutes a game this past year for Lone Peak. "He's still growing. I think he'll get to 6-11 or taller before all is said and done," said Lewis.