Shot clock is a new chapter for Utah basketball

Utah high school basketball has been without a shot clock for 114 years until Thursday night, January 20th, 2022. This is a big deal for Utah high school basketball because it will change the way the game is played. Utah has become the 11th state in the United States to adopt the shot clock. High school players and coaches alike are very excited about this needed and updated change to the game of basketball.

The shot clock makes it so teams can’t have possession of the ball for more than 35 seconds on offense. This will help speed up the pace of the game and prevent teams from stalling or holding the ball when they are ahead. It will also help players get prepared for the college level. Conner Fairbanks of Vineyard, Utah, a Junior point guard on the Mountain View High School varsity basketball team said, ”I am really excited to have the shot clock added to the basketball games this year because it will make the offensive sets more interesting and faster. The shot clock will help the teams score more points. It will also make the end of the games more interesting because a team can’t just hold the ball if they’re winning. Teams will have to shoot the ball before 35 seconds are up.” He also said, “I think every state should adopt the shot clock because it makes recruiting an even playing field for all players. If some states have the shot clock and other states don’t it will make it hard for recruiters because most coaches have a different scheme to run for an offense or defense with a shot clock opposed to not having a shot clock.”