Boulder, Colo. • Utah athletes, coaches and administrators mourned the death of Utah billionaire philanthropist and major benefactor of University of Utah athletics Jon Hunstman Sr. on Friday. Several members of the men’s basketball program expressed sorrow prior to their game against Colorado.
Utes men’s basketball players Beau Rydalch, Jake Connor and Justin Bibbins each tweeted messages of appreciation and condolences on Friday afternoon as did several prominent figures in Utes athletics, including football coach Kyle Whittingham.
Connor, the son of Utes assistant coach and former Utes point guard Tommy Connor, tweeted, “Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Jon Huntsman Sr. He devoted his life to helping others, and I am fortunate enough to say that he personally influenced my life, as well as my teammates and the University of Utah. He will be missed!”
The university’s arena, the Jon M. Hunstman Center, features his name as does the basketball facility which houses the practice courts, sports medicine facilities, coaches offices, film rooms, and team locker rooms and lounges — the Jon M. and Karen Huntsman Basketball Facility.
“I am deeply saddened by Jon Huntsman’s passing and I speak on behalf our entire Utah athletics department when I say that our hearts and prayers are with the Huntsman family,” Utah’s director of athletics Chris Hill said in a statement released on Friday.
“Jon has been an incredible friend and contributor to the University and community at large for many years. His philanthropy seemed to know no bounds. I have personally known Jon for more than 40 years and consider him a close friend. I will miss him greatly. I am overwhelmed by his passing and this is a sad day for all of us—and there are many—whose lives he touched. He was a good man who made the world a better place.”
Rest and recovery
The Utes had almost a full week between games prior to Friday night’s matchup with Colorado, the first of the season between the two teams.
This week marked the first time since the start of conference play that the Utes wrapped up their previous weekend’s games on Saturday. That, coupled with the fact that they’re playing just one game this week against their travel partner, meant the team got to take Sunday and Monday off before returning to practice on Tuesday.
Jones suspended
Utes recruit Charles Jones Jr., a junior college standout for the College of Southern Idaho, was one of two members of the CSI team suspended indefinitely this week for a “violation of team rules” according to the Times-News of Twin Falls, Idaho. The paper cited anonymous sources who said the players had failed drug tests.
Jones, a 6-foot-2 guard, signed a National Letter of Intent in November to play for the Utes next season. Jones leads CSI in scoring (20.2 points per game) and ranks second in assists (4.0 per game). Jones earned National Junior College Athletic Association All-American honors last season as a freshman at CSI.