Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Nevada [Exh] on October 17, 2025
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Men's Basketball
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Featuring the Runnin’ Utes: Jake Wahlin
11/4/2024 2:27 PM | Men's Basketball
The Runnin' Utes forward is set to make his mark on a new season
Jake Wahlin was no Utah Man growing up in Provo, Utah, but has found his path to Salt Lake City, ready to get his second season underway with the Runnin' Utes.
Wahlin was introduced to basketball as soon as the first grade, his earliest memory of playing sports. From there, his basketball career took off.
The Runnin' Utes' sophomore began playing in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) as a fourth grader and continued playing AAU ball until high school. When high school arrived, the level of play became elevated and Wahlin joined the Utah Prospects – an AAU program that ceaselessly produced Division 1 and NBA talent.
"Six out of the eight guys went to division one teams," said Wahlin. "One thing that separated us was that we practiced harder than any team, and we always had confidence in that. We practiced, our coaches practiced and trained us to prepare us for college because they knew how intense it is…I'm thankful for that experience."
After Wahlin played with the Prospects for five seasons, he committed to play basketball at BYU. However, before he could get onto campus, he continued his family's commitment of serving a mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The task of embarking on a mission halfway across the world to Lithuania was challenging, but also a learning experience for Wahlin.
"I had to learn Lithuanian, which is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn, so I was learning a different language and learning how to communicate with people with a barrier for the first year…My whole mission there was always a little bit of a barrier."
Almost a year and a half later, the significance of the journey still impacts Wahlin, today.
"I think about my mission in some way, shape or form, whether it's spiritually or socially or emotionally, every single day," said Wahlin. "Recently, I've actually been opening up some of my old journals I used to write down my experiences, and that's been really cool. It's fun to look back on and I miss it."
Wahlin reopened his recruiting once returning home to Utah, eventually finding his way to Salt Lake City to join Craig Smith's squad. Wahlin was no stranger to the Runnin' Utes team as he had played with Lawson Lovering and Hunter Erickson during his time with the Utah Prospects.
"It's been really fun to play with [Lovering] and see how he's progressed, as well as Hunter [Erickson]…It's fun having those two here. With the rest of the guys who are new this year or last year that I've met, they're all my brothers, too. That's the special part about this program, it's a brotherhood."
Wahlin, the younger brother to four sisters, got much of his work ethic and life lessons from his competitive sisters. Two of his sisters competed at the collegiate level, Malery at BYU (2014) and Cassidy at Utah Valley (2011-14).
"Even though I was the only boy in my younger years, being around my sisters and their volleyball careers, I got to see how they prepared, how they worked hard and how they were with their teammates. I learned a lot of good lessons from them, on and off the court, and it's definitely carried over to my high school and collegiate career."
Despite growing up in a BYU household with royal blue running through his veins with his parents and sisters playing for the Cougars, Wahlin has since added a little crimson to the family colors.
"My mom, she's a big BYU fan and my dad played football there. It's particularly hard for my mom and for a lot of my family, but they're all very supportive and they're all Utes now."
As Wahlin prepares to begin his second season of college basketball, the sophomore forward is itching to make his mark on a new season.
"My role will change a lot this year. I'll be more involved, I've taken some big steps and I see myself as a bigger leader now being one of only a few returners…I can remember before all of the games last year, just being on the court with fans starting to file in and the band playing; it's such a cool environment. College basketball is not like any other sport in the world."
Wahlin and the Runnin' Utes are set to face Alcorn State to open up their 2024-25 campaign.
Wahlin was introduced to basketball as soon as the first grade, his earliest memory of playing sports. From there, his basketball career took off.
The Runnin' Utes' sophomore began playing in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) as a fourth grader and continued playing AAU ball until high school. When high school arrived, the level of play became elevated and Wahlin joined the Utah Prospects – an AAU program that ceaselessly produced Division 1 and NBA talent.
"Six out of the eight guys went to division one teams," said Wahlin. "One thing that separated us was that we practiced harder than any team, and we always had confidence in that. We practiced, our coaches practiced and trained us to prepare us for college because they knew how intense it is…I'm thankful for that experience."
After Wahlin played with the Prospects for five seasons, he committed to play basketball at BYU. However, before he could get onto campus, he continued his family's commitment of serving a mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The task of embarking on a mission halfway across the world to Lithuania was challenging, but also a learning experience for Wahlin.
"I had to learn Lithuanian, which is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn, so I was learning a different language and learning how to communicate with people with a barrier for the first year…My whole mission there was always a little bit of a barrier."
Almost a year and a half later, the significance of the journey still impacts Wahlin, today.
"I think about my mission in some way, shape or form, whether it's spiritually or socially or emotionally, every single day," said Wahlin. "Recently, I've actually been opening up some of my old journals I used to write down my experiences, and that's been really cool. It's fun to look back on and I miss it."
Wahlin reopened his recruiting once returning home to Utah, eventually finding his way to Salt Lake City to join Craig Smith's squad. Wahlin was no stranger to the Runnin' Utes team as he had played with Lawson Lovering and Hunter Erickson during his time with the Utah Prospects.
"It's been really fun to play with [Lovering] and see how he's progressed, as well as Hunter [Erickson]…It's fun having those two here. With the rest of the guys who are new this year or last year that I've met, they're all my brothers, too. That's the special part about this program, it's a brotherhood."
Wahlin, the younger brother to four sisters, got much of his work ethic and life lessons from his competitive sisters. Two of his sisters competed at the collegiate level, Malery at BYU (2014) and Cassidy at Utah Valley (2011-14).
"Even though I was the only boy in my younger years, being around my sisters and their volleyball careers, I got to see how they prepared, how they worked hard and how they were with their teammates. I learned a lot of good lessons from them, on and off the court, and it's definitely carried over to my high school and collegiate career."
Despite growing up in a BYU household with royal blue running through his veins with his parents and sisters playing for the Cougars, Wahlin has since added a little crimson to the family colors.
"My mom, she's a big BYU fan and my dad played football there. It's particularly hard for my mom and for a lot of my family, but they're all very supportive and they're all Utes now."
As Wahlin prepares to begin his second season of college basketball, the sophomore forward is itching to make his mark on a new season.
"My role will change a lot this year. I'll be more involved, I've taken some big steps and I see myself as a bigger leader now being one of only a few returners…I can remember before all of the games last year, just being on the court with fans starting to file in and the band playing; it's such a cool environment. College basketball is not like any other sport in the world."
Wahlin and the Runnin' Utes are set to face Alcorn State to open up their 2024-25 campaign.
Players Mentioned
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