SLCC star headed to Utah State

Salt Lake Community College center Gary Wilkinson is making up for lost time.

Wilkinson, who was first in the Scenic West Athletic Conference in rebounding and third in scoring this year, didn't play basketball in high school, and now the 6-foot-9, 240-pound post man will be playing for Utah State.

Wilkinson, an all-Region 18 selection, committed this week to play for the Aggies. He is the third player to commit Utah State so far this year.

Judge Memorial point guard Jaxon Myaer, a two-time first-team all-state selection for the Bulldogs, and 6-10 Senegal native Modou Niang, who is playing high school basketball in Japan, have also given their pledge to Utah State.

Wilkinson averaged 18.5 points and 8.1 rebounds for the 24-9 Bruins. He led the team in scoring and rebounding 22 times each and posted a team-high seven double-doubles. He also shot 60.2 percent from the field and 74.2 percent from the free throw line.

He scored a season-high 33 points in a 87-83 victory over the College of Eastern Utah, while in a win over the College of Southern Idaho he scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

As a freshman he averaged 14.6 points (sixth in the league) and seven rebounds (fifth) in earning third team all-NJCAA honors and first-team all-Region 18 honors.

He was a preseason NJCAA first-team all-American selection.

His wife, Jessica, played volleyball for the Bruins.