Apparently, the Fremont High basketball teams recruited a new fan on Saturday during state championship games.
You may have heard of it.
Television cameras caught his reaction to a few big baskets from Dallin Hall: a 3-point pointer and a slam dunk in one hand as Hall led the Silverwolves with 16 points.
After the match, Mitchell was apparently so impressed that he looked for Hall in the stands.
In a video posted on Twitter by Nicole Hall, Dallin’s mother, Mitchell told the main guard that he liked his game, asked Hall to recruit and the two chatted for about 30 seconds while Hall held the state championship trophy.
When asked later what he said to Mitchell, Hall said he was having trouble figuring out what to say.
Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High rides for a slam dunk against Davis High in the Boys’ State Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Jon’s Huntsman Center Utah.
Spencer Vernon (2) for Davis High takes the ball from the basket against Fremont in the Boys’ 6A State Basketball Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Jon’s Huntsman Center Utah.
Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High takes a three-point shot while Trevan Leonhardt (10) for Davis High takes the hand in the Boys’ 6A State Basketball Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of Utah.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Baylor Harrop (10) for Fremont High catches the ball in the basket against Davis High during the 6A Boys Basketball State Championship match on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of l ‘Utah.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the Boys’ 6A State Basketball Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Baylor Harrop (10) for Fremont High takes a jump shot but is blocked by Jax Pearce (22) for Davis High during the Boys’ State Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at Jon M Huntsman Center at the University of Utah.
Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High takes a three-point shot while Dylan Perrenoud (35) for Davis High takes the hand in the State Boys Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of Utah.
Spencer Vernon (2) for Davis High catches the ball in the basket against Fremont High in the Boys’ State Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of l ‘Utah.
Trevan Leonhardt (10) for Davis High takes a shot against Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High in the Boys’ 6A State Basketball Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center University of Utah.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High rides for a slam dunk against Davis High in the Boys’ State Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Jon’s Huntsman Center Utah.
Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High rides for a slam dunk against Davis High in the Boys’ State Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Jon’s Huntsman Center Utah.
Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High rides for a slam dunk against Davis High in the Boys’ State Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Jon’s Huntsman Center Utah.
Spencer Vernon (2) for Davis High takes the ball from the basket against Fremont in the Boys’ 6A State Basketball Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Jon’s Huntsman Center Utah.
Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High takes a three-point shot while Trevan Leonhardt (10) for Davis High takes the hand in the Boys’ 6A State Basketball Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of Utah.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Baylor Harrop (10) for Fremont High catches the ball in the basket against Davis High during the 6A Boys Basketball State Championship match on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of l ‘Utah.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the Boys’ 6A State Basketball Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Baylor Harrop (10) for Fremont High takes a jump shot but is blocked by Jax Pearce (22) for Davis High during the Boys’ State Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at Jon M Huntsman Center at the University of Utah.
Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High takes a three-point shot while Dylan Perrenoud (35) for Davis High takes the hand in the State Boys Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of Utah.
Spencer Vernon (2) for Davis High catches the ball in the basket against Fremont High in the Boys’ State Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of l ‘Utah.
Trevan Leonhardt (10) for Davis High takes a shot against Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High in the Boys’ 6A State Basketball Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center University of Utah.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High faces Davis High in the 6A State Basketball Boys’ Championship game on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Fremont High celebrates his victory over Davis High after the 6A Boys’ Basketball State Championship game on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High rides for a slam dunk against Davis High in the Boys’ State Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Jon’s Huntsman Center Utah.
Dallin Hall (30) for Fremont High rides for a slam dunk against Davis High in the Boys’ State Basketball Championship match 6A on Saturday February 29, 2020, at the University of Jon’s Huntsman Center Utah.
Hall later said that when he threw the dunk, made possible by a robbery and a pass from Talmage Mitchell, it was then that he saw Mitchell sitting at the game behind the scoring table.
Mitchell’s apparent fandom to Fremont didn’t stop there. In the women’s 6A title match, second-year forward Timea Gardiner scored 17 points in the first half with a burst of 3 pointers.
The commentary first encountered a brief silence, then an awareness. Hall celebrated and his teammates doused him with water.
The directors of Fremont High have prepared. They heard that Mitchell was going to be at the game, so they brought an additional white Fremont High sweatshirt and gave it to Mitchell.
NOTES ON STATE TOURNAMENTS
So much happened on Saturday that I didn’t have enough room to include them all in the state championship stories. Here are some nuggets of emptying.
After the locker room celebration, Fremont’s basketball coaching staff entered the hallway and everyone opened an energy drink and shared a toast.
Last December, Fremont Boys head coach Corey Melaney spoke to reporters outside the gymnasium when asked what it would take for a team to win a state tournament.
Melaney lowered his voice and said something that ended up being a bit prophetic.
“You win with – you go deep into the playoffs with the seniors and with the Division I players. We have seniors, we have a Division I player and then we also have very good guys from next level, ” he said.
Hall is the obvious Division I player with offers from BYU, Utah, Utah State and Weber State among many others in a strange recruiting process. Guards Baylor Harrop and Tige Voorhees also have junior college basketball offerings.
So, yes, Melaney was perfect.
A THEME WITH STATE CHAMPIONS
It is not difficult to see that there is a theme with the winning teams of state titles.
Last year’s 6A champion American Fork had two D-I signers – Isaac Johnson (Oregon) and Trey Stewart (BYU) – as well as two potential junior players.
The Lone Peak team that won in 2018 had a goalie, Steven Ashworth, who signed with the State of Utah upon his return from a church mission. Bingham, the 2017 5A champions, had the Branden Carlson Center, which is now in Utah.
The Bingham team before that? Oh, the miners had this guy named Yoeli Childs, that’s all.
The 5A champion 2015 Layton?
All the Lancers had on this team was Julian Blackmon (he could have played DI basketball but will likely be picked in the next NFL draft), Jarriesse Blackmon (who played at UC Santa Barbara) and Jakoby Kemp (he is at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis).
Who will D-I players and seniors return next year? Right now, it’s Layton.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FREMONT GIRLS TEAM WHILE YOU CAN
Over the past three years, the Fremont High women’s basketball team has ranked 23-2, 21-2 and 24-3 overall.
Together, it’s 68 wins, 7 losses and a .906 winning percentage with three regional championships, a state title in 2018 and a state finalist this season.
Enjoy the Silverwolves while they are still as good.
Four of their five starters should be back next season: junior Halle Duft, junior Emma Calvert, junior Averee Porter and sophomore Timea Gardiner.
Calvert signed up with BYU long before the season started. When Gardiner chooses where she wants to play college basketball, she will essentially have the choice of any school in the country.
Figure if 6 feet 5 inches Maggie Mendelson connects as fifth starter next year (she was crucial on the bench as a rookie this season) and there will be no team in the state with as much height as Fremont, no one with so much talent and almost no one with so much return experience.
Magnifying the grief is the fact that a) the Silverwolves were arguably the best team in the state for the entire season b) Fremont led Bingham for most of the game and c) they suffered a serious injury to a starter for the very first year.
It’s a safe bet that no other 6A team will be as motivated as the Silverwolves to win a championship.