the leadership and mentorship come from? Continuity from the previous year that has been proven to help make deep tourney runs? Teammates who hold one another accountable?

You make a good point about having a helping hand at peer level that can assist in navigating the unique culture, the honor code, etc. Even just good influences for knowing what to do for clean fun on a free night or summer's outing in Provo.

I would assume the coaching staff knows it will be critical to land the top end LDS/Utah talent every year and it's OK to spend a schollie or two on guys that will eventually develop into those leaders as juniors and seniors even if not immediately. Guys that aren't ever expected to be lottery picks, but have a desire to develop into competent Euro league pros and make a living doing it for 5-10 years or so.

From the big pile of available schollies, they got one this year of that profile in BKoz. Hopefully they get one or two more next year, and it ebbs and flows based on available talent from that small LDS/Utah recruiting pool.

BTW, I don't think a guy necessarily has to be LDS to be part of that year-to-year core. A high character local Utah kid that grew up familiar with the area and culture fits the bill, I personally believe (like a Yoeli Childs).