The Utah men’s basketball team will have the services of one of its main cogs for next season.
According to multiple sources, Ute guard Sedrick Barefield has informed the Utah coaching staff he intends to return to Utah for his senior season.
Barefield, a junior, had declared for the upcoming NBA Draft, without hiring an agent. He worked out for the Jazz on Tuesday, after previously working out for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The deadline for underclassmen returning to school is on Wednesday.
Barefield projects as Utah’s starting point guard for next season, as he has combined a mixture of scoring and playmaking for a Utes team that advanced to the finals of the N.I.T. postseason tournament.
Barefield averaged 12 points for Utah last season in both a starting role and a sixth man role.
But, he will have to make the adjustment from playing off the ball to running the Utes’ offense. Justin Bibbins was an All-Pac 12 player in that role last season. Now, with Utah bringing in a talented freshman class, Utes coach Larry Krystkowiak will need Barefield to be a leader and a playmaker — while still being one of the more lethal scorers in the conference.
That’s what Barefield will have to accomplish if he hopes to play at the NBA level. Tribune sources say the Utah Jazz were impressed with his speed and quickness at Tuesday’s draft workout. With Barefield staying in school, the Jazz will make a point to monitor his progress in the coming season.
