Utah News

According to Shams Charania, the Utah Jazz have signed Blake Hinson to a two-way deal.

In the 2025-26 G-League season, Hinson is averaging 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field and 32.5% from three.

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Probably the most interesting thing about this signing is Hinson’s size. He stands 6’8” with a 6’10.25” wingspan. Those are great numbers for a player who’s doing nice things in the G-League. These types of signings are smart because you never know when a player like this can work his way into your rotation. And it becomes more and more likely when you’re adding players with top-tier tools. We’ll see how Hinson does and whether he can earn a standard contract. It would be nice if Utah was able to find more talent in the G-League as they move towards contention next season.

It’s also a reminder that the Jazz are looking for players with size and length. The Jazz are looking huge with the Signing of Jaren Jackson Jr., and this type of signing seems to fit with the Jazz’s teambuilding philosophy.

Valentine’s Day is still a week away — but a massive three-dimensional block of “LOVE” arrived early at the University of Utah.

On Saturday, the state’s flagship university celebrated the installation of American pop artist Robert Indiana’s iconic “LOVE” sculpture (“Red Outside Blue Inside”) on the south lawn of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.

The 12-by-12-by-6-foot sculpture — which was installed earlier this week during overnight hours — has already become a selfie magnet. Scores of people gathering to celebrate the newest campus addition took advantage of Saturday’s spring-like weather for photos.

With its bold red letters — and its distinct slanted “O” — Indiana’s “LOVE” sculpture is one of the world’s most recognizable pop art images. Now university officials and donors hope it becomes an inviting symbol of friendship, unity and optimism at a moment when American college campuses are often associated with tumult and division.

“This is indeed an incredible day,” said University of Utah President Taylor Randall on Saturday, saluting each of the organizations who helped the “LOVE” sculpture find a new home at the school.

Bringing the $4.5 million sculpture to the University of Utah was the joint effort of the State of Utah and a variety of university donors — including The Coburn Family Trust, The John and Marcia Price Foundation, O.C. Tanner Company, The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Zions Bank, and a gift in honor of Scott and Jesselie Anderson from The Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation.

Randall has been asked why the University of Utah would acquire a major piece of art when college budgets are tight.

The university, he responded, brings in students to inspire intellect. “But we also try to teach them about emotion — and how emotion moves society.”

Randall noted there are “two great emotions” motivating society: one is fear. The other, love.

Only one of those sentiments is positive, he said. “And it’s the role of this institution to create positive change. And so to have a statue that screams love in the midst of often chaos, competition and argument, it puts our priority — both as a society and as an institution — in perspective.”

The president said it’s his hope that the work being produced across campus is motivated by love. “Because if it’s motivated by love, it actually speaks a lot for our future.”

Love, he added, is a choice. “(Love) should be the great motivator.”

A ‘New Yorker’ finds a new home in Utah

First created in the 1960s, there are 86 iterations of Indiana’s “LOVE” sculpture — but only nine were produced in the 12-by-12-by-6-foot parameters of the work now installed at the University of Utah, according to the school.

Prior to being purchased and relocated to Utah, the sculpture was located on the corner of 55th Street and 6th Avenue in New York City for more than two decades. It was reportedly acquired through Christie’s auction house when it became available for sale in 2024.

UMFA Executive Director Gretchen Dietrich thanked President Randall and his team — including workers who installed the sculpture in the February cold — for their combined efforts to bring “LOVE” to the University of Utah.

Dietrich also applauded the donors whose generosity helped acquire the “LOVE” sculpture. “And I also wish to express gratitude to the Utah State Legislature’s continued support of the University of Utah, and commend our leaders for their honoration of art.”

She also saluted the tenacity of former UMFA advisory board member Jonathan Freedman to help launch the school’s successful pursuit of the “LOVE” sculpture.

The “LOVE” sculpture “is now a highlight of the UMFA’s permanent collection of over 22,000 artworks — and the museum and the university are committed to its long-term care and preservation for future generations,” said Dietrich.

The newly installed “LOVE” sculpture, she added, doubles as a reminder of the need to work together to build communities reflecting institutional and personal values, “and to create public spaces where all people — our students, perhaps most especially — feel welcome, valued and safe.”

Lisa Eccles, the president and COO of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, told the Deseret News that the “LOVE” sculpture is a beloved piece of art that has been seen by legions in New York City for more than 20 years.

“And now to have it on campus is just going to be a treasure.”

Eccles added Utah is an apt home for the “LOVE” sculpture “because our community and our state are about love and giving back and volunteering and taking care of each other.

“So what a great reminder of what we should be striving for.”

This post is brought to you by FanDuel, proud partner of SBNation.

Aggies most likely to make the NCAA Tournament

Just under half the voters think Utah State is the most likely team to make the NCAA Tournament. New Mexico also got a lot of votes, with 35% believing in them. San Diego State and Grand Canyon did not get a lot of votes in this one.

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Mountain West a three-bid league?

That’s what about two-thirds of fans in this poll believe. Three makes sense, with Utah State, New Mexico, and San Diego State all in good position, But teams like Nevada or Grand Canyon could end up as bid stealers. A good chunk of people think the MW could be a mere two-bid league.

There were a lot of checked boxes on Friday night as the 15^th-ranked Utah gymnastics team defeated Arizona 197.125-195.975.

The Red Rocks had the solid start they wanted, and arguably deserved an even better bars score from the judges than 49.25.

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They also were able to carry over their momentum from bars and keep rolling with an even better result on vault (49.40).

Maybe most importantly, they showed they can score in the 197.000 range even with some mistakes across events.

“One of our goals was to score over a 197.000, and obviously we did that on the road, which is a really big step for us,” said Utah coach Carly Dockendorf.

The final score was the Red Rocks’ second-best of the season and their best since Jan. 12.

On bars, it was the latter part of the lineup that led the way, as Ella Zirbes, Ana Padurariu and Avery Neff reeled off three 9.90s in a row to tie for the event title.

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That closing effort helped Utah avoid counting both of its earlier scores under 9.725.

Zirbes was even better in her next effort to win vault with a 9.925, while Zoe Johnson had a 9.9. The Red Rocks didn’t produce a score lower than 9.85 on vault, including their throw away.

“Vault was so fun to watch tonight,” Dockendorf said. “The crowd was into it, the team was into it and just amazing execution and much better control on our landings.

“Zoe’s vault was just massive, and (she) stuck that cold.”

The box Utah didn’t get to check off was a solid four-event meet because floor couldn’t match its outcome from a week ago.

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The Red Rocks finished with a 48.925 after some missteps on landings, including an out of bounds deduction from Johnson and some lower scores, one of which (Makenna Smith’s 9.75) is being queried to learn why it was scored so low.

While the event didn’t go the way Utah wanted it to, another checked box was the Red Rocks’ response to the mistakes.

“I think this (meet) was a big step for us tonight,” Dockendorf said. “Part of that big step was we still did make mistakes, but it was how we responded.”

The response to floor was beam, and it was a good one as the Red Rocks delivered their highest beam score of the season at 49.550.

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Utah’s beamers who hit were solid from start to finish, and those in the bottom of the lineup didn’t flinch after Sara Krump fell in the third spot.

Padurariu’s answer earned her a 9.925, but her great routine was quickly one-upped by her teammates Neff and Camie Winger, who both recorded 9.95s.

Their career-tying performances earned them a shared event title.

Overall, Neff was very good Friday as she won the all-around with a 39.625. The sophomore standout has had a few bumps in the road this season and a few big highlights, including recording the first 10.0 of the year in the country early in January.

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Her ceiling is high and it seems like she has found her groove to get there.

“Sometimes it takes a few meets to remind yourself of what you need,” Dockendorf said. “I really think she’s putting her formula together to do what we all know Avery Neff can do.”

Event winners

All-Around — Avery Neff (Utah); 39.625

Vault — Ella Zirbes (Utah); 9.925

Bars — Ella Zirbes, Ana Padurariu and Avery Neff (Utah); 9.90

Beam — Avery Neff and Camie Winger (Utah); 9.95

Floor — Avery Neff (Utah), Emma Strom (Arizona), 9.9

Next up

Utah is back at the Huntsman Center to host No. 23 BYU next Friday.

High school and middle school students — and some of their parents and teachers — are marching in the streets of Salt Lake City, Park City and other communities to add their voices to those who publicly deplore the violent, racist, illegal and unconstitutional actions of the federal agency known as ICE.

Students at Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University are protesting the inclusion of another rogue federal agency, Customs and Border Protection, in those school’s campus job fairs.

Utah, your kids are all right.

Among the grown-us, Utah businesses led by the Utah Small Business Strike Coalition are taking part in one-day closures, or donating to the cause, to protest the vile activities of supposed federal officers who act with no regard for the Constitution, or for law enforcement professionalism.

(Here’s a spreadsheet with the names of businesses who are supporting the movement. You may want to direct some of your business there. If you know of others, add their names to the comments below.)

We are a long way from Minneapolis, but we know what is necessary in these times.

Note that these efforts in Utah, like those in Minnesota, are overwhelmingly peaceful, sometimes even joyful, as those participating feel good about what they are doing and how many other people are with them.

They are led and followed by people who know that the very last thing we need is more anger and violence. The Trump administration wants nothing more than an excuse to crack down on public opinion, to be given an excuse to detain, or open fire on, those who disagree with the government.

Even to have an excuse to cancel the 2026 elections.

The actions of ICE the CBP are not only harming powerless individuals, they are making us all less safe in our communities.

Too many of these federal goons are wearing masks, not wearing any official identification, driving unmarked cars, pretending to be above the law, scornful of federal judges who are trying to rein them in.

That harms the ability of real law enforcement agencies — our police, sheriffs, state patrols — to work within their communities, to be trusted by them, to really enforce the law and keep our homes and streets safe.

These local officers work in plain sight, no masks, names and badge numbers in the clear, as brave and honorable law enforcement officers do.

There are efforts in Congress to limit the lawless activity of these empowered thugs. To force them to show their faces, wear ID, obey the law and heed the judges who are there to enforce that law. At the very least, all of Utah’s political class should support those efforts.

Just as our neighbors, and their children, are.

Editorials represent the opinions of The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board, which operates independently from the newsroom.

A curveball thrown in Utah Valley’s schedule benefited Adam Hall and his Utah Valley squad.

A historic winter storm roared through Oklahoma, canceling UVU’s Jan. 25 dual at Oklahoma State.

It wiped out a shot against a top-10 team and kept the Wolverines out of competition since Jan. 17.

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That changes at 9 p.m. ET Friday when UVU (3-6 overall, 1-3 Big 12) hosts North Dakota State in a dual streamed live on Flowrestling.

The unexpected layoff generated a “different training phase.”

“We just turned it into a good time for our team to train and really, you don’t get a two-week period during the season where you can focus on just training as opposed to who are we getting ready for and who are we preparing for week to week,” Hall said.

It was a time for self-improvement amid the battle-tested Wolverines’ loaded schedule.

Each starter boasts at least 15 matches this season. The number will only grow as the postseason hunt continues.

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“I know as we hit the postseason that the volume will drop,” Hall said. “The intensity will stay high and these guys will get their rest as we approach Big 12s and NCAAs. I know that the schedule we put together allowed our team to get wins that we needed to get into the rankings and really put ourselves in position to go to the national tournament and get on the podium.”

Rankings A ‘Testament’ To Program

Six Wolverines debuted in the first NCAA Division I coaches rankings, released a week ago.

Haiden Drury led the pack as he sits 15th at 141 pounds.

David Evans (#16 at 149), Mark Takara (#32 at 157), Caleb Uhlenhopp (#31 at 184), Kael Bennie (#28 at 197) and Jack Forbes (#27 at heavyweight) rounded out the group.

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“As a smaller program, maybe the little guy, especially in the Big 12, but then nationally, too, it is (that) these guys have a chip on their shoulder,” Hall said. “Just trust what we are doing is preparing them to wrestle with the best in the country. Here and there we have picked up some ranked wins and (we’re) starting to get recognized.”

It’s another step for the Wolverines, who are building in Hall’s second season in charge.

Hall didn’t recruit six of his starters (the previous coaching staff did), he said, as he implemented a newfound belief in the group.

“It is going to take a little bit of time to get where we want to be, but we are on the road to that spot we are trying to get to,” Hall said.

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Excelling Evans

Hall knew Evans’ season wouldn’t be flawless.

Sure, the Penn State transfer would endure some losses and a few setbacks in his first season as a Wolverine.

But Evans, after he missed three consecutive duals in December but suffered a ranked loss against Wyoming’s Gabe Willochell in his return, enters Friday’s dual with two consecutive ranked wins.

He majored South Dakota State’s then-#21 Alek Martin and worked a one-point win over Missouri’s then-#18 Josh Edmond.

It’s a return to form for Evans, who was “banged up” after the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite before he caught the flu and strep throat in the same week.

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“Trying to come off that while cutting weight, it was a recipe for disaster,” Hall said. “It was one of those like, ‘Man, we probably shouldn’t have wrestled you or a couple of these other guys.’ Look, I was like, ‘Every team is dealing with (sickness).’”

Evans became UVU’s key transfer portal addition in the offseason after he spent five seasons at Penn State.

“We will take our lumps now and hopefully we get a shot at (Willochell) at the conference tournament or national tournament,” Hall said. “I think everything happens for a reason and Dave taking a tough loss and having a better performance the following week with some tough guys that I think was really good for him.”

Drury’s Decision

One offseason made all the difference for Drury.

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The redshirt senior narrowly missed the past two NCAA Championships, but isn’t leaving anything to chance in his final season.

“I think when our staff had him this past year, we got 80 percent out of him,” Hall said. “It was, ‘I’m gonna do just what I need to do and that is it.’ This year, you have just seen more urgency from him. He is just more devoted to his recovery. We asked him to meet with our sports psychologist regularly and he is doing that. You just start seeing more buy-in.”

Hall saw plenty of inconsistencies in Drury’s redshirt junior season. Ranked wins occurred, but other times, the performances puzzled Hall.

“Last year he hit a phase where it was like, ‘I don’t know what you are doing out there,’” Hall said. “‘You are finding the out of bounds. You are not being aggressive. There is something going on,’ and I think there were some things going on maybe in his personal life that were just frankly a distraction. I think this year, he has just been really locked in and it has shown.”

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Drury boasts four consecutive dual wins and enters Friday’s dual ranked #18 at 141.

UVU Entering ‘Next Phase” Of Program

One of UVU wrestling’s longtime avid supporters will soon retire.

UVU president Astrid Tuminez will step in down in May, which presents a critical period for Hall’s program.

“I think it is a big deal in terms of the direction that our program is heading because of how much support we have had in my year and a half of being here,” Hall said. “So, I think the next phase of our program is coming up and I think that our institutional support is good and it is going to get even better as we try to make jumps as a program.

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“In this era of NIL and resources being tightened, I think that we are in a great position as a program to make jumps because we don’t have football,” Hall said. “We are one of the marquee sports at our school, and it is exciting.”

Hall also shouted out the rest of UVU’s administration for its constant support — particularly sport administrator Clint Burgi, athletic director Jared Sumsion and vice president of institutional advancement Kyle Reyes.

Watch Utah Valley home duals this season live on Flowrestling.

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