OGDEN — There are a lot of new faces on the Weber State 2017-18 men’s basketball roster, with seven freshmen and a junior college transfer who will help replace all-time leading 3-point shooter Jeremy Senglin, among the rest of the departing senior class.

But one new face shouldn’t be new for basketball fans in Utah.

Brekkott Chapman, who played two seasons at the University of Utah, is set to make his Wildcat debut when Weber State opens the season Nov. 10 against Utah State.

And the former Roy High standout can’t wait.

“Words can’t even describe how excited I am to play again,” Chapman said during Weber State's media day Wednesday. “This is the longest I’ve been off the court since I was 5 years old.”

Chapman averaged 4.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 2015-16, helping the Utes reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. That included a career-high 15 points and nine rebounds in a win over Arizona State, but he averaged 5.7 points in 35 games as a freshman who was recruited by Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, Gonzaga and UCLA as a Top-50 recruit in high school.

And the 6-foot-8 wing is bringing his veteran savvy to a team whose main returning pieces include guards Cody John and Ryan Richardson and standout post Zach Braxton.

“The thing I’m most pleased about with him is how important it is to embrace our culture,” Weber State coach Randy Rahe said. “If you do, you love the results — and that is what he’s done.

“He’s trying to become more of a leader, and I’ve asked him to be more vocal with his teammates — and he’s done a great job with that.”

Chapman, for his part, has benefitted from the tutelage of Rahe and his coaching staff, associate head coach Eric Duft and assistants Garrett Lever and David Marek.

“The coaching staff here is very, very invested in their players,” Chapman said. “I didn’t feel that at Utah, and it’s a big reason of mine for leaving. They are absolutely 100 percent invested with the players here, and love each and every guy. They want to get the best out of every single player and I love them for it.”

Chapman’s teammates have noticed his leadership, as well.

“Brekkott’s a heck of a player,” said Braxton, who averaged 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 68 starts over the past two seasons. “When you come from a Pac-12 school, you obviously have a lot of talent. But he came here and was level-headed — just acted like part of the team.

“He shoots it really well for a guy who is 6-9. He’s fast, he’s athletic, and he just wants to be a part of the team as much as anyone else.”

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Former Runnin’ Utes forward Brekkott Chapman transfers to Weber State

Former Utah men’s basketball forward and Roy High standout Brekkott Chapman is transferring to Weber State to continue his basketball career.

If Chapman and the rest of the newcomers can jell with Braxton and the veterans, the Wildcats are hoping to improve on last season’s CIT postseason appearance and get back into the NCAA Tournament.

“I don’t know how good we are going to be, but I know that we’ve got a really hard-working team,” Rahe said. “We’ve got a team that shows a lot of toughness, and we’re a very well-connected team. Those are the things that I look forward to going into any year.

“I like coaching this team a lot.”

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