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The identity of the 2026-27 Utah men’s basketball team has come into greater focus over the past few weeks as Alex Jensen and his staff have retooled the roster through the transfer portal and international recruiting trails.

The Runnin’ Utes likely aren’t done making moves yet, though for now, they’re set to welcome 12 newcomers to their ranks while bringing back two returners from last season’s 10-22 squad. That leaves one roster spot open for potentially one last portal acquisition before Utah puts a bow on its offseason and moves ahead with preparations for next season.

Until then, let’s take a look at the Utes’ potential depth chart at each position.

Point Guard

1. TJ Burch (Starter)

• 2025-26 stats at Wright State: 12.4 ppg, 3.6 apg, 2.6 spg and 2.4 rpg in 34 games; shot 45.7% from the field, 34.7% from 3 and 73.3% from the free-throw line
• Analysis: We’re predicting Burch gets the starting nod at point guard due to his Division I experience (55 games, 23 starts) and his defensive prowess — the latter of which Utah sorely lacked in its backcourt this past season.

2. Noam Yaacov

• 2025-26 stats with Filou Oostende (Belgium): 18 ppg, 5.8 apg, 4 rpg in 28 games; shooting 49.5% from the field, 40.2% from 3 and 78% from the free-throw line
• Analysis: Yaacov could claim the starting point guard before conference play begins; his decision-making and scoring touch make him Utah’s most NBA-ready guard. Either way, his playmaking is a welcomed addition given Utah averaged just 13.7 assists per game (No. 192 in the country) last season.

3. Styles Clemmons

• 2025-26 stats with Overtime Elite: 5.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 3.1 apg in 16 games; shot 32.4% from the field, 26.7% from the 3 and 78.9% from the free-throw line
• Analysis: Clemmons is a superb athlete who’s ranked by 247Sports as a three-star prospect and the No. 27 point guard recruit in the 2026 class. He spent the past two seasons in the Overtime Elite league.

Shooting Guard

1. Taison Chatman (Starter)

• 2025-26 stats at Ohio State: 4.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.8 apg in 28 games; shot 46% from the field, 47.1% from 3 and 85% from the free-throw line
• Analysis: Chatman is a former four-star recruit who’s dealt with injuries throughout his collegiate career. Given the right opportunities, he could thrive in an off-ball role as a score-first guard who spreads the floor and hunts for his shot.

2. Lucas Langarita

• 2025-26 stats: 2.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.6 apg in five games; shot 45.5% from the field and 42.9% from 3
• Analysis: The 21-year-old Langarita still has room to grow in the playmaking department, though with more repetitions and experience at the Division I level, he could turn into a solid contributor for the Utes.

3. David Katoa

• Recruiting: Three-star and No. 43 shooting guard in 2024 class from Utah’s Layton High School (served two-year mission trip after graduating)
• Analysis: Katoa arrives to Utah two years removed from his senior year at Layton High School, where he averaged 17.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals as a senior. His time to shine at the college level could come in due time, though it might not be as a freshman.

4. Simeon Suguturaga

• Recruiting: Unranked 2026 recruit from Utah’s Orem High School
• Analysis: The 6-foot-4 Suguturaga could turn into a nice player down the line, but given the experienced players ahead of him on the depth chart, there’s a good chance he doesn’t see the floor right away.

Small Forward

1. Jackson Holcombe (Starter)

• 2025-26 stats at Utah Valley: 16 ppg, 7 rpg, 3.6 apg in 34 games; shot 53% from the field, 16.2% from 3 and 68.2% from the free-throw line
• Analysis: Holcombe’s length, dribble penetration and defensive intensity are big additions to Utah’s perimeter depth. He doesn’t exactly spread the floor, but he does provide some playmaking and has a few 3-point shooters surrounding him in the Utes’ backcourt.

2. Alec Anigbata

• 2025-26 stats with OrangeAcademy (Germany): 5.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.6 apg in 25 games; shot 45.7% from the field, 40% from 3 and 66.7% from the free-throw line
• Analysis: Anigbata is a skilled scorer who can create his own opportunities by moving without the ball and creating space off the dribble in the midrange areas. His height at 6-foot-8 also gives the Utes more length.

3. Jaxon Johnson

• Recruiting: Four-star and No. 22 power forward in 2024 class from Utah’s Alta High School (served two-year mission trip after graduating)
• Analysis: Johnson was listed as a power forward in his recruiting profile, though his ability to knock down shots from behind the arc and play on the perimeter make him a candidate to play more of a wing position with the Utes. However, his playing time could be limited as a freshman with Holcombe and Anigbata ahead of him on the depth chart.

Power Forward

1. Babacar Faye (Starter)

• 2024-25 stats at Western Kentucky (missed 2025-26 due to injury): 15.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.1 spg in 10 games; shot 53.7% from the field, 38.5% from 3 and 80.4% from the free-throw line
• Analysis: Faye’s presence was sorely missed this past season. Assuming he’s fully healthy, his length should help the Utes on both ends of the floor in 2026-27.

2. Zati Loubaki

• 2025-26 stats at Trinity Valley Community College: 11.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.4 apg in 33 games; shot 52% from the field, 42.5% from 3 and 77% from the free-throw line
• Analysis: Loubaki’s athleticism at 6-foot-9 gives the Utes some lineup flexibility, if they chose to slot him at the “3” instead of the “4” behind Faye. That 42.5% 3-point clip is a bit deceiving though, considering he attempted 0.8 3s per game last season.

Center

1. Fynn Schott (Starter)

• 2025-26 stats with Hestia Menorca (Spain): 2.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.7 apg in 25 games; shot 59% from the field and 37.9% at the free-throw line
• Analysis: The Utes didn’t have much of a low post scorer last season and had to rely on their guards to do the heavy lifting on offense. Schott, a 6-foot-10 forward from Austria, should give Utah a scoring option on the low block.

2. Malek Gomma

• 2025-26 stats at Weber State: 8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.4 apg in 32 games; shot 53.6% from the field, 40% from 3 and 47% from the free-throw line
• Analysis: Gomma’s a bruiser in the paint, even if his height at 6-foot-8 doesn’t scream “true center” build.

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For the first four innings Thursday night against Utah, BYU couldn’t muster any offensive momentum.

The Cougars weren’t without opportunities, having put seven men on base, but they only managed to get one run out of the early traffic, repeatedly fading with runners in scoring position. Anything that could have become a spark was quickly extinguished.

In the bottom of the fifth, BYU trailed by two runs and had runners at the corners. The Cougars had already stranded two men on three separate occasions, so when Bryker Hurdsman had two strikes against him in a two-out at bat, there was fair reason to believe a fourth such disappointment was imminent.

But Hurdsman wouldn’t be the one to make that third out — it took the Utes another five batters after him to finally escape the frame, at which point BYU had scored five runs to pull ahead with a comfortable cushion.

The Cougars never looked back following their fifth inning breakthrough, as they held on to capture a 6-4 victory in Provo to open the 3-game rivalry series.

“I think we got unlucky early. We hit some balls hard and got caught, you know what I mean? I thought we had really good at-bats and got (Utah starting pitcher Colter McAnelly’s) pitch count up and maybe wore him down a little bit, so I liked our approach throughout, it was just a matter of time before we got a big hit,” BYU head coach Trent Pratt said postgame.

“We had guys on base every inning, and we just couldn’t come through the big hit, and then in that (fifth) inning, we were able to come through with a couple big hits and put a five on the board.”

Hurdsman kickstarted the two-out BYU rally with the first of three consecutive RBI singles, with Crew McChesney and Tualau Wolfgramm’s respective game-tying and go-ahead knocks each coming on the first pitch they saw.

Even after a Utah pitching change, Matt Hansen walked to load the bases, setting up a Ridge Erickson single to score two more runs and put BYU ahead by three.

The Cougars ended up batting around the order in the fifth — Luke Anderson led off the inning with a single, scored on Hurdsman’s hit and then made the third out.

BYU’s 5 through 9 hitters in the lineup, previously hitless on the night, were the ones to flip the ballgame, all doing so with two outs and exclusively through singles and walking.

“That’s where experience comes in. There’s really nothing they haven’t seen,” Pratt said of his lineup. “A lot of these kids have started for four years, so they don’t get rattled, they don’t get fazed.

“If we get down, they just keep playing, because they know we can strike fast. We have a chance to get back in any game.”

BYU starter Wayland Crane was less than electric on the mound — he allowed five hits, walked three Utah batters, plunked two others and only threw strikes on half of his pitches — but he battled through five innings to allow just one earned run, repeatedly playing Houdini to escape trouble and keep the cold Cougar bats in the ballgame.

With the bases loaded and one out in the third inning, Crane induced a badly-needed double play to keep the Utes off the scoreboard, which Pratt referred to as “the turning point of the game.”

“(Crane) was just gutsy,” Pratt said. “… He wasn’t sharp, but he found a way to just make pitches, and we played good defense behind him to get him out of some jams.”

Dan Brousseau relieved Crane for three innings of one-run ball with three punchouts, and Ashton Johnson tossed a perfect ninth for his fifth save of the season.

“Dan was awesome. He came in and just threw strikes,” Pratt said. “That’s the thing, when we got in trouble, it’s because we walk guys or hit guys. Then (Johnson) does what he always does, we know from the game, he’s gonna throw strikes.

“If someone’s gonna beat us, they have to get a bunch of hits.”

Utah’s seven hits — three for extra bases — proved insufficient, as the road team went 3 for 15 with runners on, including 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

Daniel Arambula smacked a double, a solo home run and walked, Cal Miller got on base three times and Jet Gilliam logged two hits, but no other Utes reached safely more than once.

While six of his 14 recorded outs came via strikeout, McAnelly was charged for all six of BYU’s runs to take the loss, while Crane came away with his second career win.

BYU now moves to 23-21 on the year and 12-10 in Big 12 play, while the Utes fall to 21-19 and 9-13 against league foes.

The second game of the series will take place Friday at 6 p.m. in Provo.

The Utah Jazz are projected to have over $20 million in salary cap space this summer.

That’s not enough for a star-level signing, and with how this year’s free agency class expects to shake out, it’d be hard for Utah to stumble upon an All-Star-level talent on the market anyways.

But in the pool of the veterans that are slated for new contracts around the league this summer, there are several the Jazz should be keeping an eye on as potential fits who can make an impact in next season’s rotation.

Let’s look at a batch of five free agents that could be strong fits for the Jazz:

Robert Williams | C, Trail Blazers (UFA)

The Jazz could have a plan in place for their big man rotation next season as is by re-signing Walker Kessler and Jusuf Nurkic to new deals. But if the focus is on bolstering their defensive side of the ball in their frontcourt depth, the Time Lord is worth a look.

Williams has faced consistent injury issues in recent seasons, but this year has been a relatively positive outcome in terms of his availability in production. He played just over 17 minutes a night in 59 games for 6.7 points on over 70% shooting from the field, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks.

This Jazz front office, with ties to the Celtics and their draft history, has some of the same people who initially selected Williams as a first rounder in 2018. If they wanted to land him on their team once again, this offseason’s free agency would be the time to do so.

Rui Hachumura | PF, Lakers (UFA)

Hachimura will be a coveted free agent hitting the market this summer simply due to his outstanding season as a shooter (over 43% 3PT) to pair with his versatile length. But those same reasons are exactly why the LA Lakers forward needs to be on the Jazz’s radar.

He fits the Jazz’s prototypical length and versatility they aspire to in their top players while being able to provide a bit of a better spark on the defensive side of the ball; something Utah and their front office will be searching to add to next year’s roster all offseason.

If Hachimura can fall within the Jazz’s price range, which remains to be determined, he’s a no-brainer to add to their list of free agency targets.

Tobias Harris | SF, Pistons (UFA)

A 15-year veteran with over 1,000 career games played, Harris has proven he can be an impactful and consistent scorer in the frontcourt for years. And as the Jazz are looking to make their official jump to a playoff team, that experience can be largely impactful for a budding roster like Utah.

He’s turning 34 in July, but he’s averaged double figures in every season since 2013, and he’s made the playoffs every year of the past eight seasons.

There’s no doubt he can find a premier role as a connecting piece on the Jazz’s bench to help them make their aspired jump in the standings next season–– even if not exactly filling their defensive needs.

The Jazz have also been linked as a fit for Tobias Harris in past offseasons. It would not be a shock if those rumors spark up again this summer.

Lu Dort | SG, Thunder (TO)

Dort would have to have his team option declined from the Thunder in order to hit the free agent pool, but he’d bring a defensive spark on the Jazz’s perimeter they’ve been coveting to play for some time now.

Offensively, he’s not the most seamless fit for the Jazz. He shot under 40% from the field this season for the Thunder, and would need to be masked by other positive offensive fits around him for truly be effective. Thankfully, Utah does have that.

Dort is the type of player you hate to see competing against you on the other side, but can learn to appreciate if he’s playing for your team. As a high-end defender who’s a proven starter for a championship team, he should be on Utah’s radar.

Marcus Smart | PG, Lakers (PO)

I’ve been pounding the table for Smart to Utah for the past couple of offseasons now, and if he declines his $5 million player option with the Lakers this summer, it’ll open up a perfect opportunity for the veteran guard to land with the Jazz once again.

Smart might not be the same Defensive Player of the Year-caliber presence on the perimeter like he was with the Celtics in 2022, but he’s still a positive defender with tons of experience that could be of benefit to a budding Jazz roster, even if he’s never quite been the most consistent threat offensively.

At a similarly valued deal from what he’s landed with the Lakers, don’t be surprised if Danny Ainge ends up pursuing the same guard he drafted while at the helm in Boston back in 2014.

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A federal drug enforcement official fired up a pill press in Salt Lake City Wednesday, cupping his hand to catch little blue tablets as the machine cranked and spat them out at a rapid pace. 

The highly unusual scene illustrated how easy it is to make and turn big profits from illicit pills containing the powerful synthetic opioid, said Miguel Chino, assistant special agent in charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain field division.

“It only costs the cartel about one cent a pill,” Chino told reporters before starting the demonstration. “Here in the state of Utah, you buy a pill for $1 to $5, so the profit margin is extremely big.” 

Chino and Melissa Holyoak, the first assistant U.S. attorney for Utah, touted their agencies’ efforts to fight a flood of illicit fentanyl in the state and across the country. They noted the DEA seized a record-high 2 million fentanyl pills in Utah last year and said they’re working toward a goal of eliminating the drug’s presence altogether. 

Their announcement came on a national day of awareness for the highly addictive drug and the devastation it’s caused families and communities. As Chino poured powder down a chute and into a pill press previously recovered by the DEA, he emphasized it did not contain any of the actual drug, of which even a tiny amount can be fatal. 

The officials attributed a national drop in drug overdose deaths and a similar downward trend in Utah largely to law enforcement efforts and prosecutions. But they said fentanyl pills, often made to look like less powerful drugs such as oxycodone, Xanax and Percocet, are still making their way to Utah communities from Mexico in large amounts. 

Just this week, Holyoak said, her office filed charges in a case involving 225,000 pills hidden away in pieces of ready-to-build furniture.  

“No matter how creative and no matter how much is being flooded into the United States, we will remain vigilant,” Holyoak said.  

The DEA accuses the Sinaloa and CJNG Cartels of being responsible for the majority of fentanyl entering the United States, which Chino said travels by bus or car. Often the pills are pressed before crossing the border into the U.S., but the drug also comes to Utah in powder form, Chino said.

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In Utah, fentanyl surpassed methamphetamine as the most common drug in  overdoses in 2023, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The following year, the two drugs were about even, with meth involved in 44% of overdose deaths, and fentanyl in 43%. 

The federal officials said one death is too many and they’re working to prevent overdoses 

“We have men and women out all hours of the night working to eliminate this, seizing drugs, doing drug buys, doing search warrants, whatever they can do,” Chino said. 

In December, President Donald Trump designated the drug a “a weapon of mass destruction,” calling it “closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic.”

Trump has claimed without evidence that Venezuelan boats struck by the U.S. military last year were carrying fentanyl. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, most illicit fentanyl in the U.S. comes from Mexico and is mostly smuggled through official ports of entry by U.S. citizens. 

This week, the U.S. military said its latest strike on an accused drug-trafficking boat killed two “narco-terrorists.” The operation raised the death toll of the strikes that began in September to at least 170. 

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