King Rachal Committed to Utah State Basketball
The No. 47 ranked national recruit chose the program to focus on player development and his future NBA goals.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Basketball
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Small forward King Rachal announced his commitment to join Utah State basketball on Oct. 6, 2026. The 6-foot-7, 185-pound recruit from Sherman Oaks, California, joins fellow commitment Crew Fotheringham in the program.
Why it matters
Rachal selected the program due to the coaching staff's reputation for player development and their support for his ambition to reach the NBA. The move provides a significant boost for Utah State as the university prepares to transition into the Pac-12 Conference.
King Rachal is a 6-foot-7, 185-pound small forward, while fellow recruit Crew Fotheringham stands 6-8 and weighs 180 pounds. Utah State enters the season with a No. 51 KenPom ranking after defeating Denver 86-76 in an exhibition game.
The players
King Rachal
He is a highly rated small forward from Sherman Oaks, California, who recently committed to the Utah State basketball program.
Crew Fotheringham
He is a forward and recent recruit who announced his commitment to play basketball at Utah State.
Ben Jacobson
He serves as the head coach of Utah State basketball and was hired to lead the program in 2026.
The details
Utah State head coach Ben Jacobson is overseeing a roster transition that includes the addition of these highly touted recruits. The university is also modifying seating at the Spectrum to increase revenue specifically for NIL funds to support the basketball program.
Timeline
Sept. 24, 2026: Crew Fotheringham committed to Utah State.
Oct. 6, 2026: King Rachal announced his commitment to Utah State.
Oct. 10, 2026: Utah State defeated Denver 86-76 in an exhibition game.
Oct. 24, 2026: Utah State plays an exhibition game against Santa Clara.
Nov. 2, 2026: Utah State opens the regular season against Idaho State.
Season Trajectory
The addition of elite recruits helps solidify the team's depth as Utah State prepares for its transition to the Pac-12 Conference. These signings position the program to remain competitive against larger, established conference rivals in future seasons.
Fans in Logan can expect increased seating capacity changes at the Spectrum, which the university is implementing to boost NIL funding. These roster additions suggest a shift toward more high-profile play as the program enters its transition period.
The takeaway
The program is aggressively using new NIL revenue initiatives to secure top-tier talent like Rachal. This strategy underscores the changing economics of collegiate basketball as teams navigate conference shifts.
What happens next
Utah State plays an exhibition game against Santa Clara on Oct. 24, 2026, followed by the season opener against Idaho State on Nov. 2, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on the team's outlook, visit Logan Basketball.
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