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The state of Utah hasn’t struggled to put players in the NBA over the years.

Among BYU, Utah, Utah State, Utah Tech, UVU and Weber State, 76 players who’ve played college basketball in the Beehive State have gone on to play in the NBA.

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As of last year, according to Clutch Points, 4,898 players had played at least a game in the NBA, and 1.5% of those players played college ball for a Utah-based school.

There are names in that group that even the most casual fan will recognize, players such as Danny Ainge (BYU), Tom Chambers (Utah) and Damian Lillard (WSU) to name a few.

There are many former Jazzmen in the group, plus a No. 1 overall pick (Andrew Bogut), All-Stars and champions. Utah products have pretty much run the gamut in the league.

Right now, the mid 2020s, might be the golden age of for Utah products in the NBA, though, in terms of quality at the top and quantity of players in the NBA.

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As of July 27, there are eight Utah college products on NBA rosters. Those players are:

• Egor Demin (BYU/Brooklyn Nets).

• Kyle Kuzma (Utah, Milwaukee Bucks).

• Pelle Larsson (Utah and Arizona, Miami Heat).

• Jakob Poeltl (Utah, Toronto Raptors).

• Damian Lillard (Weber State, Portland Trail Blazers).

• Sam Merrill (Utah State, Cleveland Cavaliers).

• Neemias Queta (Utah State, Boston Celtics).

• Dillon Jones (Weber State, Washington Wizards).

There is also a two-way player who should see playing time in the NBA next season:

• Branden Carlson (Utah, Oklahoma City Thunder).

Only once in history have there been more Utah college basketball products in the NBA at the same time. That happened in the 2005-06 season and was driven by some pretty notable names:

• Rafael Araújo (BYU).

• Keith Van Horn (Utah).

• Michael Doleac (Utah).

• Andre Miller (Utah).

• Lance Allred (Utah)

• Andrew Bogut (Utah).

• Eddie Gill (Weber State).

• Keon Clark (Utah Tech).

• Marcus Banks (Utah Tech).

• Ronnie Price (UVU).

Other eras have come close, including the early-to-mid 1980s and the late 1990s/early 2000s, but the mid 2000s and the mid 2020s stand out from the rest.

The current crop of players is a good one — maybe not better than that mid-2000s group but definitely close.

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For one, it includes the best NBA player in state history in Lillard, the only Utah-product on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. Lillard most likely won’t play next season after tearing his Achilles tendon in the first round of the playoffs, but he is under contract with Portland and is the best Utah product to ever play in the NBA.

Kuzma, Poeltl, Demin and Queta all have a good chance of being starters next season, meanwhile. Kuzma and Poeltl for sure with the Bucks and Raptors, respectively, but Demin was a lottery selection by the Brooklyn Nets — a tanking team — and thus has a real chance to be a starter from Day 1.

Queta has been a reserve for the Celtics, but after the departures of Kristaps Porziņģis and Luke Kornet, along with the expected departure of Al Horford, Queta appears in line to start for a Celtics team many believe is going to tread water next season with star Jayson Tatum out for the season.

Merrill is a proven reserve for Cleveland, and agreed to a four-year, $38 million contract to stay with the team. The Cavs in effect chose Merrill over fellow reserve Ty Jerome, showing their belief in the Aggie great.

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And Larsson, who played in 55 games last year, appears to be in line for a bigger role with the Heat after being their primary playmaker/scorer during NBA Summer League.

Jones, meanwhile, could see real minutes for Washington after seldomly playing for Oklahoma City, and Carlson is a single injury to a Thunder big man away from being a needed reserve for the defending champions.

The crop of Utah products in the NBA in 2025-26 could grow, too. Delon Wright, a 10-year vet, is currently unsigned after finishing the year with the New York Knicks. Wright played key minutes in the playoff for the Knicks, who advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Are we currently the golden era of Utah college basketball products in the NBA? That can certainly be debated. At the very least, though, college basketball in Utah is producing pros at a high rate — among the highest rates in state history — and many of those products are going on to have long, productive careers.

There should be more on the way, too.

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Under Kevin Young, BYU is recruiting at a level the state hasn’t really seen before. Case in point, AJ Dybantsa is practically guaranteed to be a high lottery selection in the next NBA draft, with whether he goes No. 1 or No. 2 overall being the biggest question. And Dybantsa is only one of multiple potential pros in Provo right now or on the way to Utah County in the future.

Utah, meanwhile, is hopeful for a resurgence under Alex Jensen, and the Utes have made a habit of producing pros, arguably more consistently than any in-state program, decade-to-decade.

Then there’s Utah State, which under Jerrod Calhoun is recruiting better than it ever has and thus it wouldn’t be a shock to see another Aggie latch onto a NBA team in the coming years, especially with the school moving to the Pac-12, which has a chance to be one of the better basketball conferences in all of college basketball.

All of which is to say, Utah and basketball are vibing right now, as long as you forget about the Utah Jazz.

Utah’s fall camp starts Thursday.

Which means — and yes, I know I’ve said this over and over again in our TribUte newsletters — it’s almost time for college football.

With that being said, I wanted to take the opportunity to forecast Utah’s 2025 results, game by game. I don’t have a crystal ball, but here are my predictions for the season.

Game 1: Utah @ UCLA

What a great first test for the Utes. This matchup certainly got more interesting once UCLA signed former five-star and Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava in the spring transfer portal.

Still, I think the Utes have the upper hand over the Bruins defensively.

Prediction: Utah defeats UCLA, 28-21 (1-0)

Game 2: Utah vs. Cal Poly

This is what many refer to as a “buy game.”

There’s not much else to say about this contest other than that it will be a blowout.

Prediction: Utah defeats Cal Poly, 55-10 (2-0)

Game 3: Utah @ Wyoming

Welcome to Laradise, Ute fans.

It’s been a while since the Utes faced their old foes up north. Even if this is considered an old rivalry, I don’t expect this game to be close by any margin whatsoever.

I think the Utes’ offense will dominate. Utah’s defense will also force several turnovers.

Prediction: Utah defeats Wyoming, 42-14 (3-0)

Game 4: Utah vs. Texas Tech

What an opening contest to conference play, amirite?

The Utes will get their first crack at the NIL-rich Red Raiders to start Big 12 play at home in Salt Lake City. I think this will be a close game as well as Utah starting quarterback Devon Dampier’s first major test.

To me, the matchup to watch will be Utah’s offensive line vs. Texas Tech’s revamped defensive line, led by defensive tackle Lee Hunter. If Utah can win that battle, I think it’ll be in good shape.

Overall, I think the Utes will squeeze out a tough victory over the Red Raiders in Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Prediction: Utah defeats Texas Tech, 24-21 (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)

Game 5: Utah @ West Virginia

The Utes will have to travel 1,900 miles for their first Big 12 road trip of the 2025 season.

And it will be against a formidable opponent in the Mountaineers, too.

Following a big win against the Red Raiders, I think WVU and returning starting quarterback Nicco Marchiol get one over the Utes.

Dampier will also have his first “bad” game as Utah’s quarterback.

Prediction: West Virginia defeats Utah, 31-21 (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)

Game 6: Utah vs. Arizona State

Last year the Utes were defeated by Arizona State, the defending Big 12 champs, in nightmarish fashion.

Cam Rising’s season ended after he sustained a severe lower-leg injury against the Sun Devils. Plus, the Utes’ defense was torched by former ASU running back Cam Skattebo.

Knowing all of that, it sets Utah up for a get-back game. But, I don’t think it ends up going that way.

Prediction: ASU defeats Utah, 17-14 (4-2, 1-2 Big 12)

Game 7: Utah @ BYU

We all know what happened in this game last season.

Utah AD Mark Harlan walked onto the field.

There was the controversial holding penalty against Utah cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn, which ultimately allowed BYU and former quarterback Jake Retzlaff’s game-winning drive on the road.

This year the Utes will be traveling to Provo, and I think they come out of the game with a win. Utah will avenge its loss from a season ago.

Prediction: Utah defeats BYU, 42-36, (5-2, 2-2 Big 12)

Game 8: Utah vs. Colorado

In 2024, Colorado and head coach Deion “Prime” Sanders got the best of the Utes in Boulder.

The loss was one of the worst offensive performances for Utah and backup quarterback Isaac Wilson. Also Utah’s sixth straight loss of the season, it left Whittingham feeling like he was “in the ‘Twilight Zone.’”

Without Heisman winner Travis Hunter and star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, I think the Utes top Colorado at home, avenging the loss from a season ago.

Prediction: Utah defeats Colorado, 38-21, (6-2, 3-2 Big 12)

Game 9: Utah vs. Cincinnati

Cincinnati was not very good last season (neither were the Utes). And I’m not sold on the Bearcats heading into 2025.

This, for me, is an easy prediction to make.

Prediction: Utah defeats Cincinnati, 28-7, (7-2, 4-2 Big 12)

Game 10: Utah @ Baylor

Utah should be riding into this contest on a three-game win streak, but I think Baylor will humble Whittingham and the Utes in Waco, Texas.

Bears redshirt senior quarterback Sawyer Robertson will, uncharacteristically, have his way with Utah’s defense. I also think Dampier will struggle against Baylor’s secondary.

Prediction: Baylor defeats Utah, 27-13, (7-3, 4-3 Big 12)

Game 11: Utah vs. Kansas State

If Utah wants to win the Big 12 this season, I think it will have to beat Kansas State.

Ultimately, I expect this game to be close. Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson, running back Dylan Edwards and wide receiver Jayce Brown will really test Utah’s defense.

The Utes’ offense will have to match their pace. The big x-factor is that this game will be in Salt Lake City, though, which gives the upper hand to the Utes.

I think Dampier and Utah squeak out a close one over the Wildcats at home.

Prediction: Utah beats Kansas State, 13-10, (8-3, 5-3 Big 12)

Game 12: Utah @ Kansas

Utah could very well be fighting for a Big 12 championship berth heading into this contest.

It will be the Jayhawks’ final home game at their newly renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Despite that, the Utes will come into this game more hungry for the win. I expect this to be a close one with Utah coming out on top.

Prediction: Utah defeats Kansas, 21-14, (9-3, 6-3 Big 12)

What do you think?

Now, it’s your turn to predict Utah’s record. Tell me how you think the Utes will fare in 2025 in the poll below.

Bill Armstrong spent his first few years as GM of the Arizona Coyotes making future-focused trades. Now, the future is here. The Utah Mammoth have so many prospects you could practically make a full team with them — and still have some left over.

That’s exactly what we did. Here’s our hypothetical Utah Mammoth all-prospects team.

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Rules

We defined “prospects” as players who are younger than 23 at the time of writing with fewer than 82 games of NHL experience. Players such as Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther, while young and promising, have too much NHL experience to be considered prospects in this context.

Also, not every player will be positioned in his usual spot — some centers will be listed on the wing, etc., to allow the best players to fit into the lineup.

And remember: It’s completely hypothetical and it’s meant to be fun!

Utah Mammoth all-rookie team

Forwards

Tij Iginla – Caleb Desnoyers – Daniil But

Julian Lutz – Cole Beaudoin – Noel Nordh

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Vojtěch Hradec – Gabe Smith – Vadim Moroz

Štěpán Hoch – Owen Allard – Miko Matikka

Extras:

• Sam Lipkin

• Ilya Fedotov

• Jonathan Castagna

• Yegor Borikov

• Tanner Ludtke

Utah’s plan to build a 1,200-bed homeless shelter is stuck in the mud.

Last fall, the state’s homelessness board directed officials to debut a new homeless campus by this October. Now, the opening for the facility — which would be four times the size of the largest shelter currently in operation — has been pushed back with no new target date in sight.

“The original timeline has been delayed, primarily due to challenges in identifying a suitable property,” state homeless services spokesperson Sarah Nielson said in an email. “The Office of Homeless Services is still actively working through the site selection process.”

The delay comes as homelessness continues to rise in the Beehive State. Utah homelessness coordinator Wayne Niederhauser has said that Salt Lake County alone lacks 800 to 1,200 shelter beds.

No land, funding gaps

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, meanwhile, is rolling out a public safety plan under pressure from state lawmakers that calls for opening more shelter space to keep those struggling with homelessness off the city’s streets.

Earlier this month during a briefing about the plan’s rollout, Mendenhall told reporters that “progress has now stalled” on building the new facility. She called on state lawmakers and officials to “fully fund the development and ongoing operations” of the homeless campus.

Last year, members of the Utah Homeless Services Board charged staff with finding a 30-acre site somewhere along the Wasatch Front to accommodate a campus.

Officials considered building it on the site of Salt Lake County’s Oxbow Jail along the Jordan River but eventually backed off. In April, state staffers hosted a meeting about a potential shelter site with the Northpoint neighborhood on the west side of Utah’s capital.

Without a final location, Nielson said the state can neither do neighborhood engagement nor hammer out operational details with service providers.

Utah lawmakers have already set aside $25 million to buy land for the project, but have yet to earmark funds for the shelter’s operation. Nielson added that private money could also help bankroll the campus’ work.

SLC says it’s doing its part

Salt Lake City’s homelessness director, Andrew Johnston, said the city has done all it can to support the campus project.

“We’ve offered city-owned land, provided key information including fair market value as required for the eminent domain process and granted [the state] access to the site for due diligence and preliminary research,” he said in a statement. “From day one, we’ve worked in good faith to help move this campus forward because we believe every person deserves access to shelter and housing — and we remain committed to that goal.”

For her part, Nielson called City Hall “an active partner” in the project’s planning process.

The city, through Mendenhall’s public safety plan, offered to host a temporary shelter on property it owns while the new facility was being built. Since then, however, the state has considered building the permanent campus on that site, Johnston said, complicating plans for a temporary option.

Without a new shelter up and running by this fall, Salt Lake City and other municipalities are planning for winter emergency beds to help those struggling with homelessness on frigid nights. The multi-city task force will pitch its plan to the state’s homeless services board next month.

Utah’s plan to build a 1,200-bed homeless shelter is stuck in the mud.

Last fall, the state’s homelessness board directed officials to debut a new homeless campus by this October. Now, the opening for the facility — which would be four times the size of the largest shelter currently in operation — has been pushed back with no new target date in sight.

“The original timeline has been delayed, primarily due to challenges in identifying a suitable property,” state homeless services spokesperson Sarah Nielson said in an email. “The Office of Homeless Services is still actively working through the site selection process.”

The delay comes as homelessness continues to rise in the Beehive State. Utah homelessness coordinator Wayne Niederhauser has said that Salt Lake County alone lacks 800 to 1,200 shelter beds.

No land, funding gaps

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, meanwhile, is rolling out a public safety plan under pressure from state lawmakers that calls for opening more shelter space to keep those struggling with homelessness off the city’s streets.

Earlier this month during a briefing about the plan’s rollout, Mendenhall told reporters that “progress has now stalled” on building the new facility. She called on state lawmakers and officials to “fully fund the development and ongoing operations” of the homeless campus.

Last year, members of the Utah Homeless Services Board charged staff with finding a 30-acre site somewhere along the Wasatch Front to accommodate a campus.

Officials considered building it on the site of Salt Lake County’s Oxbow Jail along the Jordan River but eventually backed off. In April, state staffers hosted a meeting about a potential shelter site with the Northpoint neighborhood on the west side of Utah’s capital.

Without a final location, Nielson said the state can neither do neighborhood engagement nor hammer out operational details with service providers.

Utah lawmakers have already set aside $25 million to buy land for the project, but have yet to earmark funds for the shelter’s operation. Nielson added that private money could also help bankroll the campus’ work.

SLC says it’s doing its part

Salt Lake City’s homelessness director, Andrew Johnston, said the city has done all it can to support the campus project.

“We’ve offered city-owned land, provided key information including fair market value as required for the eminent domain process and granted [the state] access to the site for due diligence and preliminary research,” he said in a statement. “From day one, we’ve worked in good faith to help move this campus forward because we believe every person deserves access to shelter and housing — and we remain committed to that goal.”

For her part, Nielson called City Hall “an active partner” in the project’s planning process.

The city, through Mendenhall’s public safety plan, offered to host a temporary shelter on property it owns while the new facility was being built. Since then, however, the state has considered building the permanent campus on that site, Johnston said, complicating plans for a temporary option.

Without a new shelter up and running by this fall, Salt Lake City and other municipalities are planning for winter emergency beds to help those struggling with homelessness on frigid nights. The multi-city task force will pitch its plan to the state’s homeless services board next month.

With Jake Retzlaff’s withdrawal from BYU, the Cougars and the Utah Utes are on different trajectories heading into the 2025 college football season, according to the pundits.

The Cougars are now expected to finish more toward the middle of the Big 12 pack as they try to sort through their now-open quarterback competition where there’s little Division I experience among the contenders.

This comes one year after BYU, with Retzlaff leading the offense and Jay Hill’s defense often shutting down the opposition at critical moments, finished the 2024 campaign with an 11-2 record, including a 7-2 mark in Big 12 play, and ended the year with a dominant victory over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.

Special Collector’s Issue: “1984: The Year BYU was Second to None”

Get an inclusive look inside BYU Football’s 1984 National Championship season.

For the Utes, meanwhile, oddsmakers are increasingly becoming more favorable towards their chances at a conference title in their second year in the Big 12.

That comes after they went 5-7 last season, struggled to a 2-7 record in league play and missed a bowl for the first time in over a decade.

A good portion of that optimism comes from an incoming transfer class headlined by quarterback Devon Dampier, a transfer from New Mexico who followed his offensive coordinator, Jason Beck, to Salt Lake City.

Dampier expected to be one of the more dynamic playmakers in the Big 12, and the Utes also bring back a lot of talent on an always tough defense while also returning all five starters on their offensive line, including two — Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu — who are projected as potential first-round picks next year.

It’s unsurprising, then, that when Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt discussed five teams to “buy” on and five others to “sell” on in taking stock of the 2025 season, both BYU and Utah were mentioned — on opposite sides of the debate.

Why does Joel Klatt say to ‘buy’ on Utah football in 2025?

Along with Utah, Klatt identified Clemson, Michigan, Washington and North Carolina as teams to “buy” in on for the upcoming season during a recent episode of The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast.

Klatt noted the Utes’ injury troubles that severely hampered the team last season.

“This is a team that I think is primed for a bounce back — ‘buy’ list, here we go, stock up — Year 21 from my man, Kyle Whittingham, at Utah,” Klatt said during the podcast.

“Rare losing season. You know they’re going to bounce back. The season got absolutely wrecked by injuries last year. It might be Kyle’s last, so you’re going to have the sentimental aspect of that with all of his players.”

Klatt discussed what having Dampier join the Utes could mean to the program, if Dampier increases his efficiency and matches it with his well-known commodity of being a dangerous runner.

“They’ve got a new coordinator on offense, Jason Beck. He brought in his quarterback with him, Devon Dampier, and from all the reports I’ve been hearing, Dampier is big. He’s physical. He can run. He ran for over 1,100 yards last year in New Mexico, first-team All-Mountain West. He does need to improve his ability to throw the football. He was under 60% completion percentage,” Klatt said.

“… If he brings them any amount of stability at that position — in particular, not turning the football over — they should be fine. Why? Because the defense is always fine. Morgan Scalley is one of the best defensive coordinators in the country. They were a top 25 defense a year ago, and with a running quarterback, what should you be able to do? Run the football.”

Klatt is a believer that Utah can turn around its fortunes in close games as well — last year, the Utes were 1-5 in one-score games — and finish the regular season with anywhere from 8-10 wins.

“If you tell me that they’re not going to turn the football over, they’re going to get back to running the football with that experienced offensive line, lean on their defense, rush the quarterback, the 1-5 in one-score games will turn into 5-1,” Klatt said, “and now all of a sudden, what are you? You’re 10-2, and you’re probably playing for the Big 12 title.”

What does Joel Klatt say to ‘sell’ on BYU football in 2025?

Multiple times during the podcast, Klatt emphasized that this stock watch was merely for the 2025 season and not an opinion on the overall health of the programs he mentioned.

BYU’s uncertainty at quarterback heading into the season served as the primary reason behind why the Cougars were alongside programs like Tennessee, Wisconsin, Syracuse and California in landing on Klatt’s list of teams to “sell” on.

“This is an easy sell. Unfortunate for this program, but this is just what happens right now. This sell is BYU,” Klatt said. “With everything that’s gone on this summer, you look back and it’s like they start 9-0 last year, they’ve got CFP in their sights.

“They lose two of their last three in the regular season, they beat Colorado in the bowl game. A lot of people are high on them in the offseason, but part of that was the fact that they felt like with Jake Retzlaff back on offense, they could handle some of the losses on the defensive side.

“I love Kalani Sitake. Again, this is not indicative of an overall program decline, it’s just an indicative of terrible timing at the most important position on the field.”

Retzlaff is transferring to Tulane after facing a seven-game suspension for violating the BYU honor code. Last year was Retzlaff’s first as the Cougars’ full-time starter, and while he faded near the end of the season statistically, he also proved clutch several times in critical moments during an 11-win season.

“This is a guy that on the field was steady. He was a good leader for them from last year, they believed in him and now all of a sudden, you lose your quarterback, and the three-man battle has had no time to develop,” Klatt said.

Now, BYU is looking at having to start a quarterback who wasn’t the expected starter at the end of spring ball — with McCae Hillstead, Treyson Bourget and Bear Bachmeier in the mix.

“They have 12 total quarterback starts at the college level, zero at the Power Four level. That’s tough. It’s really tough to overcome that,” Klatt said. “They’re replacing eight starters on defense. That was a defense that was excellent last year.

“The schedule isn’t bad, but it’s, again, just like all the other Big 12 schedules, you’re facing a bunch of teams with similar talent. You’re probably going to be in a one-score game with a quarterback that has no experience.”

A state judge has dismissed an environmental group’s lawsuit to prevent Utah lawmakers from again suing the federal government over whether or not it has a right to hold onto its public lands in perpetuity.

The fact that there is no longer any pending litigation was the reason the 3rd District Judge Thaddeus J. May decided that the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance’s arguments were “moot.”

“Because the Supreme Court denied defendants’ motion for leave to file a bill of complaint, there is no longer a concrete act plaintiff seeks to stop,” wrote May in the order. “But the court finds defendants’ statements about any future action to be too vague to be redressable.”

Utah Attorney General Derek Brown said the state is pleased with the ruling. “Our office will continue to vigorously defend Utah and protect Utah’s public lands,” he said in a statement.

SUWA’s complaint was in reference to the highly publicized Utah v. the United States of America case filed last year in which the state argued that as many as 18.5 million acres of federally-owned land aren’t being used validly and should be turned over to the state to manage. While it was being considered, the state ran a marketing campaign called “Stand for Our Land,” spending millions of taxpayer dollars to promote its arguments locally and nationally.

That case had a narrow focus defined on the “Stand for our Land” website, which was to ask the constitutionality of “whether the federal government can simply hold unappropriated lands within a state indefinitely.”

Nearly 70% of Utah is owned by the federal government, and other states were able to “dispose” of — sell, lease, develop, etc. — the vast majority of the territory within their borders. That ability for each state to dispose of land was part of the haggle to define statehood as far back as the Continental Congress. Utah leaders maintain that it’s only fair for the state to be treated the same.

But the Property Clause of the U.S. Constitution, found in Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2, gives Congress the sole power to dispose of, make rules or regulations about the land under its ownership.

Utah’s case was filed directly with the U.S. Supreme Court, which denied hearing it in January. No similar lawsuits have yet been filed in any lower courts, which is an action that Gov. Spencer Cox and Brown have both said repeatedly that they’re considering.

“While we were hopeful that our request would expedite the process, we are disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision not to take up this case. The court’s order does not say anything about the merits of Utah’s important constitutional arguments or prevent Utah from filing its suit in federal district court,” Cox and Brown said in a statement released in January. “We will continue to fight to keep public lands in public hands because it is our stewardship, heritage and home.”

Constitutional conflict?

SUWA first filed its lawsuit last December while Utah’s case was being considered by the Supreme Court. That initial action sought to prevent the litigation from moving forward, arguing the state’s claim was in direct opposition to the Utah Constitution, which reads:

“The people inhabiting this state do affirm and declare that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries hereof, and to all lands lying within said limits owned or held by any Indian or Indian tribes, and that until the title thereto shall have been extinguished by the United States, the same shall be and remain subject to the disposition of the United States, and said Indian lands shall remain under the absolute jurisdiction and control of the Congress of the United States.”

That language is found nearly verbatim in the Enabling Act of 1894, which led to Utah statehood in 1896.

Once the case was denied by the Supreme Court, SUWA amended its complaint to seek “relief, not from this now lifeless petition, but from the specter of any similar future litigation by defendants,” the judge wrote in dismissing the complaint.

“The law deals with substance not shadows,” he wrote. “A party cannot gain jurisdiction through prayers for relief seeking shelter from an unknown future storm.”

During arguments, however, SUWA said it believes the state laid bare its intentions regarding what it would do with federal public lands should ownership be transferred to the state.

“We’re disappointed with today’s decision but grateful that the true intent of the state’s lawsuit has been made clear: to force the sale of millions of acres of public lands to the highest bidder and not to acquire these lands for the state, as its deliberately misleading media campaign suggests,” Steven Bloch, SUWA’s legal director, said in a statement.

Bloch said SUWA will review the decision and consider potential next steps, including refiling the case if the state brings a lawsuit in federal court.

What exactly did the state’s attorney say?

In oral arguments on July 14th, ABC4 Utah reported that SUWA’s lawyers pressed that the state’s constitution precludes Utah from ever taking over ownership of the federal lands within its borders, and that it’s bound by its statehood agreement to give up claims to them.

Utah assistant attorney general Lance Sorenson responded by clarifying that the state was not necessarily attempting to take ownership of the land with the lawsuit.

“It’s all that’s speculative, and in the future,” he said. “But the claim in the federal lawsuit was not to transfer title to the state of Utah.”

“We don’t know how the land would get disposed of. Maybe they would sell it to SUWA, right?” Sorenson said.

Bloch said that he understands that as a clear indication that the state never intended to manage the land it attempted to acquire through legal action, which was what the Stand for Our Land campaign reiterated.

Rather, Bloch and SUWA believe that the state intends to dispose of — in this case, meaning to sell — public lands.

It was Sorenson’s comments, Bloch said, where “the things that are said quietly were said out loud.”

Brown, however, responded to the Deseret News’ questions about Sorenson’s comments and SUWA’s interpretation by focusing on what the original lawsuit was about.

“Utah is actively exploring every available avenue, including refiling our lawsuit, to challenge the assumption that the federal government can indefinitely hold onto public lands without designating them for a purpose,” he said.

Bloch said he believes the state made a “very candid acknowledgement” of its intention to sell off public land if it is ever able to win the long-standing legal battle over ownership.

At the very least, it highlights a “deliberately misleading media campaign” on the part of the state, he said.

Because “that’s not what people hear out loud” when the state discusses this issue of federal land ownership, Bloch said. “They hear the media campaign, they hear ‘stand for our land,’ ‘let Utah manage Utah land,’ ‘Utah can do it better.’ Which is now very clearly not what they’re seeking to accomplish in court.”

The Utah Jazz waived former Celtics guard Jaden Springer on Thursday in what appears to be a financially related move. Springer was set to have a guarantee of $400,000 next season kick in on his $2.3 million contract if he remained on the roster through Friday. With Utah already having 15 players on the roster in addition to Springer, the team opted to cut ties with the defensive-minded guard instead of taking the cap hit on a player who may not make the team.

Utah signed Springer back in March following the Celtics dealing him away at the trade deadline in a salary dump to the Houston Rockets. Houston immediately waived Springer after thar deal, leading him to sign a 10-day contract with the Jazz and eventually a three-year contract which was largely non-guaranteed.

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Springer saw more opportunity on a rebuilding Utah team than he did in Boston, averaging 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 13.2 minutes per game. However, the 6-foot-4 guard did not show enough on the offensive end to keep his spot. He played Summer League with the Jazz this summer but a roster logjam has him looking for a new landing spot.

The 22-year-old was originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2021 NBA Draft at No. 28 overall. He spent two and a half years with the Sixers before the Celtics gave up a 2024 second-round pick to land him at the 2024 trade deadline. Springer went on to win a title with the 2024 Celtics but only appeared in 43 games with the team over two seasons, posting 1.9 points and 1.0 rebounds per game before being dealt away in February.

Springer is no longer eligible for a two-way contract, so he will likely be in the market for a camp invite from an NBA team or certainly would have plenty of interest overseas if he opts to go that route.

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Read the original article on MassLive.