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Caleb Lohner is coming to BYU.
Multiple sources have confirmed to Vanquish The Foe that the University of Utah will release Caleb Lohner from the National Letter of Intent he signed with the school last November, clearing the way for the four-star 2020 recruit to sign with BYU.
One well-placed source indicated that Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak had initially refused to sign Lohner’s release, but that the coach’s wishes were overridden by his boss, athletic director Mark Harlan, who ultimately authorized the move.
Upon receiving the release from his NLI, Lohner will become immediately eligible to play for another school, and he is expected to join BYU’s active roster for the upcoming season. Had Lohner not secured his release from Utah, he still could have made the jump to Provo, but would have been forced to sit out a year of competition (without a scholarship) and lose a season of eligibility.
As the Lohner saga unfolded over the weekend, uncorroborated media reports surfaced that accused BYU of improperly tampering with Lohner. However, multiple sources connected with BYU, Utah, and independent of both schools have since refuted those claims. One such report by Ute Zone alleged that BYU had hired Caleb’s father — former Cougar hoopster Matt Lohner — in an on-campus job, but multiple sources confirmed to Vanquish The Foe that report is 100% false. Matt Lohner is not employed by the university.
Former Utah player Britton Johnson also publicly refuted tampering claims by Utah fans and sources:
I want the Utah's Hoop program turned around more than anyone, my whole family does. It's fair to have assumptions, but simply put......you're wrong. You're assumptions are wrong and that is 100% the truth.
— Britton Johnsen (@Brittonhoops) June 8, 2020
Many Utah fans/sources out there that simply can’t admit that Pope/BYU staff is making BYU basketball a more desirable destination than Utah right now without cheating ♂️ pic.twitter.com/w9TZRxLlwv
— Robby McCombs (@rtmccombs) June 8, 2020
Lohner formally requested the release from his NLI last Thursday evening and, per NCAA rules, was free at that point to talk with any program, regardless of whether Utah ultimately agreed to grant him that release.
As we reported last Friday, Lohner’s decision mainly stems from his dissatisfaction with Utah’s style of play. Sources say the high-flying swingman prefers to play in a more up-tempo, free-flowing offense like the one Mark Pope used to great effect in his much-heralded first season in Provo.
Lohner was a four-star recruit in the 2020 class and received offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU and Kansas State, among others. He was heavily recruited by BYU throughout his high school career, before ultimately committing to Utah in August 2019.
Lohner is anywhere between 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-8, depending on who you ask. Regardless, he will give BYU great versatility with his size, athleticism, and skill set. He will likely play primarily on the wing, but he has the size to play a stretch four in a small ball lineup.
Cougar fans can expect the Texas native to make an immediate impact next season. BYU has good size down low, but lack length on the perimeter. Lohner will have no shortage of competition for playing time from players with more collegiate experience on what’s expected to be a deep BYU roster, but he has the talent to make his presence felt as a true freshman and potentially work his way into the starting lineup. Beyond 2020-2021, he has the potential to be a player that BYU can build around for several years to come.