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Pleasant Grove’s 7-4 Matt Van Komen should give the Utes a defensive presence they lack

His display of range came at the other end of the court. Van Komen contested a 3-point shot, then turned and hustled down the lane to rebound the ball.

The defensive presence that enabled him to block three shots and affect a bunch of others in the Vikings’ 80-57 rout of Weber makes Van Komen valuable to Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak’s program after he signed in November. Listed by the Utes at 7-foot-4, he’ll become the tallest player in school history when he arrives on campus this summer, joining a program that needs defensive help.

Utah is in fourth place in the Pac-12, but ranks No.