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New Utah Valley University men's basketball coach Todd Phillips (right) awaits his news conference with his son Zach and his wife Bobbi at the NUVI Basketball Center on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

Isaac Hale/UVU Marketing

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New Utah Valley University men's basketball coach Todd Phillips (center) shares the stage with UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez (left) and Director of Athletics Jared Sumsion at the NUVI Basketball Center on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

Isaac Hale/UVU Marketing

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New Utah Valley University men's basketball coach Todd Phillips (center) answers questions from reporters after a news conference at the NUVI Basketball Center on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

Isaac Hale/UVU Marketing

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Utah Valley men’s basketball coach Todd Phillips has had a lot going in during the first three months of his tenure as head coach, including his No. 1 priority: Recruiting.

Phillips and his coaching staff are replacing 11 of their 13 available scholarship spots from a team that finished 28-9, beat Oregon and BYU on the road and made the semifinals of the NIT. Former head coach Mark Madsen left for Cal and eight major contributors have scattered to the winds, either out of eligibility or leaving for greener pastures through the transfer portal.

Phillips has mined the transfer portal as well, searching for not only talent but experience and leadership.

Pre-transfer portal, leadership usually came from returning players while newcomers got in line. Now, through the portal, Phillips can recruit good leaders such as former Westlake, Snow College and Southern Utah standout Drake Allen, a 6-foot-4 guard expected to make a big impact this season with the Wolverines.

“Our goal was to get older, which we’ve done,” Phillips said. “Drake is a good example of that. He was on the all-newcomer team last year in our league (Western Athletic Conference). He’s not shy of the moment, to say things when he needs to. He knows this league and will put his stamp on this team as a player with his leadership. He’s really done all that. He got married last week and that’s a little bit of a distraction but he’s been fantastic.

“It’s been hard, looking for not only talent in the portal but guys who can come in and be leaders. Some of the guys we’ve brought in haven’t played as much but I think their experience and leadership will show up down the stretch.”

The Wolverines also picked up former BYU guard Tanner Toolson, a familiar name for UVU men’s basketball fans. Ryan Toolson (2003-04, 2006-09), Tanner’s cousin, is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,163 points and had a terrific pro career overseas. Tanner’s older brother, Connor Toolson (2016-19), is fifth all-time on that same list with 1,224 points. Another cousin, Jake Toolson, played three seasons in Orem before transferring to BYU his senior year.

In fact, Connor Toolson was a the MVP of Salt Lake Community College’s national championship in 2016, a team coached by Phillips.

“I’ve called Tanner ‘Connor’ a few times already,” Phillips admitted. “But Tanner is exactly what the doctor ordered. We needed a shooter and somebody that was tough, and he’s been as advertised. He’s young. He redshirted last year so this will be his first year of playing. He competes every day and wants to get better. He’s spending extra time in the gym after practice.”

Another young player in the gym is former Timpanogos standout Jackson Holcombe, who recently returned from a church mission to Sacramento, Calif. As a high school senior, the 6-foot-6 Holcombe was a matchup nightmare and averaging 20.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

“There’s time that it takes for returned missionaries to get back,” Phillips said. “Jackson has done a tremendous job of working since he got back. The main thing I tell him and his family is to not overdo it and get hurt. He’s behind because he’s been gone for two years and he wants to get back. I have to tell him to take the weekend off so his body can rest. I’m excited to see him out there and see how he develops.”

Allen, Toolson and Holcombe join five other key newcomers along with returning players Jaden McClanahan (5-11 Sr. G), Ethan Potter (6-8 So. F), Trevan Leonhardt (6-4 R-Fr. G) and Cache Fields (6-6 Sr. G) to form Phillips’ first roster.

Potter came on strong late last season and Phillips praised the summer of work put in by Leonhardt.

Associate Head Coach Todd Okeson has been heading up scheduling efforts, which is always a challenge for a mid-major team. Phillips said the Wolverines have a home-and-home arrangement with Conference USA, which will include games against Liberty this season. UVU will get Weber State at home and take road trips to Utah, Oregon State and Boise State.

The Wolverines have won the past two games against BYU but the Cougars are not on the schedule for 2023-24.

Phillips and his staff are busy in preparation for a 10-day foreign tour of Italy, which begins next week. The Wolverines will play three games in Rome, Milan and Florence.

“It works great with all the new guys we have,” Phillips said. “We can evaluate all of them and we’re excited about that. There will be separation on the roster as guys show what they can do. Everyone coming in will start to realize just how they fit in and how they can stay on the floor.”

Newcomers to UVU men’s basketball 2023-24

Jackson Holcombe 6-6 Fr. G Orem, Utah (returned missionary)

K’mani Doughty 6-5 Jr. G Brooklyn, NY (New Orleans transfer)

Drake Allen 6-4 Jr. G Eagle Mountain, Utah (SUU transfer)

Tanner Toolson 6-5 So. G Vancouver, Wash. (BYU transfer)

Simon Akena 6-6 So. G Hogalid, Sweden (McCook CC Nebraska transfer)

Osiris Grady 6-8 Fr. F Las Vegas, Nev. (Wasatch Academy)

Trevin Dorius 7-0 Gr. C Heber City, Utah (Utah State transfer)

Caleb Stone-Carrawell 6-7 Jr. F Concord, N.C. (Austin Peay transfer)

Returning from last season’s roster

Jaden McClanahan 5-10 Sr. G Vallejo, Calif.

Cache Fields 6-6 Sr. G Palo Alta, Calif.

Trevan Leonhardt 6-4 R-Fr. G Kaysville, Utah

Ethan Potter 6-8 So. F Layton, Utah

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