Utah News

The Utah Jazz fell short against the Sixers, 106-102. For the most part, it was a duel between Keyonte George and Tyrese Maxey. George scored 30 points on 10/24 shooting from the field (41.7%) and 5/11 (45.5%) from three. It was very clear that Keyonte George was the equal of Tyrese Maxey, if not better. Maxey was also great, scoring 25 points on 8/22 (36.4%) shooting from the field and 2/10 (20%) from three. The comparison has been made often this season, with Keyonte George a strong candidate for Most Improved Player. The style is similar, and the numbers are very comparable. That’s what made this matchup so interesting. Now that it’s done, it’s time to start getting excited about the future for Keyonte George. His ability to run the offense, score at all levels, and defend at an improved level is pointing towards an elite season next year. It’s not out of the question to consider not just All-Star, but All-NBA, as real possibilities next year.

It wasn’t just Keyonte George who played well in the Jazz’s loss. Utah got some really solid minutes from Ace Bailey and Cody Williams. Cody Williams actually led the team in plus/minus at +15. It’s an absolute 180 from where we saw him last season. Williams’ potential to be a consistent and effective wing player is looking increasingly likely with each game. If he can consistently hit his open threes, Williams is looking like a nice pick at #10. Gone are the days of Jazz fans pining for Matas Buzelis. Ace Bailey’s percentages weren’t where you wanted them to be, but he’s showing more and more comfort in the Jazz’s system and initiating with the ball. Bailey is driving more regularly and even running pick-and-rolls. What’s great is that it’s looking more and more smooth. Not only that, Bailey is defending at a higher level and improving game after game. Bailey is playing with real force at times on the defensive end, and if he can consistently impact at a high level defensively, there’s a real chance he becomes a high-level, winning player in the league.

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Isaiah Collier is also showing his value as a backup point guard. Collier had 18 and 5 tonight and scored at a solid clip. He can’t consistently hit threes, but his speed and power make up for it, at least as much as you can reasonably expect. That speed drives his greatest skill, his ability to get to the paint at will. Collier can bend the defense every night, and there’s a ton of value in that. With more time and work, Collier should be a vital part of the future and can be even better when surrounded by more consistent play around him.

Finally, it’s time to look at Blake Hinson as a potential part of the future. Hinson has done nothing but play well since joining the Jazz. In five games, Hinson is shooting 56% from the field and 52% from three. Not only that, Hinson brings real size (he’s 6’8”) and intensity on the defensive end. That combination makes him a valuable potential role player for the Jazz going forward. Yes, he’s 26, but now is the time for the Jazz to start looking at players as potential parts of the future. Hinson seems like the exact type of player that winning teams find in the G-League.

It’s nights like tonight, where Utah loses just barely at the end, that will be different next season. Utah is doing a fantastic job of keeping its pick this season. This decision is going to add another top prospect to the roster and will help the Jazz enter an era of winning basketball we haven’t seen since the early Donovan Mitchell years and up to the time of Deron Williams.

It certainly seemed like Utah was going to run away with it in Philadelphia, leading for most of the fourth quarter before the home Sixers slipped ahead to win 106-102. Utah maintains its tank race momentum (phew), and Philly advances without the services of Joel Embiid, but what’s new?

Well…

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Mo Bamba – A

It makes no difference to me how this game played out because Mo Bamba is officially in the Utah Jazz record books after years of teasing. I feel for Bamba, the sixth overall pick in his draft class, whose career has been entirely overshadowed by a mediocre song. Hopping from team to team, most Gen Z-ers probably recognize the name more than the player, and that makes me feel simultaneously old and hipster.

Bamba gets an A based on vibes alone. He deserves it.

Keyonte George – A-

We certainly missed Keyonte while he was out with an injury, and he’s taken no time at all to remind us how great he’s become in his third season. Who would’ve thought that Utah would find their point guard of the future with the 16th overall pick?

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After a slow start, Key pulled together his second-straight 30-point game since his return — even after bearing the weight of Nikola Jokic, carrying Denver’s pillar on his back in the previous game. I got distracted. Keyonte was dynamite at carrying the scoring load, knocking through 50% of his threes and finishing with 30. Do we want to see more from a playmaking standpoint? Sure. But buckets are buckets, and Keyonte is one.

Kyle Filipowski – C-

I wouldn’t blame you if you had forgotten Filipowski played at all tonight. Despite opening in the starting lineup, Flip posted just 6 points in 22 minutes.

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John Konchar – B-

Konchar does Konchar things — filling in the gaps off the bench. Sure, he didn’t do much as far as scoring the ball, but with 3 assists, plus a steal and a block, seeing Konchar get minutes brings a smile to my face.

Cody Williams – C+

Classic Cody performance. 9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and some decent defense. 3 for 6 from the field and 1 for 4 from deep is also incredibly on brand.

Ace Bailey – C-

Ace really struggled to get it going tonight, and this is bound to happen for a player his age. 5 for 16 from the field and 12 points is fine. It’s fine.

On to the next one for Ace.

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Isaiah Collier – B+

Collier bought a timeshare at the free throw line tonight, with a team-high 8 attempts from the stripe. He felt right at home in his new spot, too, knocking down 100% of those foul shots.

He stuck to his strengths, posting 18 points without a single three-point attempt, while adding 5 dimes (a bit low by his standard), and 3 steals. No waste from Zay tonight, and he’s proving his worth as a backup point guard.

John Hinson – B+

3 for 5 from distance, and 11 points in 18 minutes? Nobody knew this guy’s name a few months ago, but now a very niche subsection of basketball fans will be celebrating his emergence with Utah.

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Elijah Harkless – B

Is Harkless emerging as an excellent defender? You bet! He proved that against Denver, and he showed similar flashes tonight. But he was an absolute non-factor offensively, and you’d hope for more when he’s given the starting nod.

Brice Sensabaugh – D+

He’s hot. He’s cold. He’s 3 for 12 in Philly.

Oscar Tshiebwe – C

Seeing Oscar Tshiebwe sub in for Mo Bamba was a sicko’s fever dream, and an undeniable indicator that we’re approaching a critical tanking stretch of the season.

Tshiebwe did what Tshiebwe does best: board, board, board. Unfortunately, he likewise did what Tshiebwe does most: sit, sit, sit. Short stint, but he got in the game, didn’t he? That’s a win!

Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.

The Calgary Flames have acquired defenceman Olli Määttä, prospect centre Jonathan Castagna, and three second-round selections in the 2026 NHL Draft (belonging to the New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Utah Mammoth) from Utah. In return, Calgary has traded defenceman MacKenzie Weegar to the Mammoth.

Määttä, a veteran blueliner from Jyväskylä, Finland, brings more than a decade of NHL experience to the Flames’ defensive group. The 31-year-old left-shot defenceman is 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, and has appeared in 22 games with Utah this season. He is known for his steady defensive play, positioning, and veteran leadership on the back end.

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Also joining the organization is centre Jonathan Castagna, a developing prospect currently playing at Cornell University. Castagna is in his third NCAA season and has been a key offensive contributor for Cornell, leading the team in scoring with 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points through 29 games.

The Flames also receive significant draft capital in the deal, adding three second-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Authorities say the day program’s caregiver found the men dead hours after he left them in a van while he went inside his apartment.

Utah’s UHSAA boys basketball championships come to a close with six champions crowned across the various classifications originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It’s been a busy week in Utah as the state’s UHSAA boys basketball state championships were staged across the state’s six classifications.

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The state’s top 6A championship was decided Friday night when the Westlake [Saratoga Springs] Thunder captured the crown in a 71-55 win over the Bingham [South Jordan] Miners. That followed the Olympus [Salt Lake City] Titans’ 53-46 triumph over the Bountiful Redhawks in the Class 5A title game. Both those games were played at the University of Utah’s home arena in Salt Lake City.

The Class 1A championship was also staged Friday night in Utah’s capital city at Salt Lake City Community College. The game was an instant classic with the Rich [Randolph] Rebels winning the title in a 63-62 win over the Panguitch Bobcats.

Utah Valley University in Orem was the site for the 2A championship game on Wednesday night. The South Sevier [Monroe] Rams won the finale, 59-44, over the South Summit [Kamas] Wildcats.

The Class 4A and 3A title games were settled last weekend. The Provo [UT] Bulldogs claimed the Class 4A title in a 62-42 rout of the Hurricane [UT] Tigers on Saturday, February 21, at Weber State University in Ogden. The Morgan [UT] Trojans, meanwhile, took the Class 3A trophy home after defeating the American Heritage [American Fork, UT] Patriots, 64-51, that same evening at Southern Utah University in Cedar City.

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STREAM: Watch Utah’s UHSAA boys basketball playoffs on KSL Sports

UHSAA Class 6A bracket, schedule and results

2026 • UHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships 6A Boys Basketball Championship

UHSAA Class 5A bracket, schedule and results

2026 • UHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships 5A Boys Basketball Championship

UHSAA Class 4A bracket, schedule and results

2026 • UHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships 4A Boys Basketball Championship

UHSAA Class 3A bracket, schedule and results

2026 • UHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships 3A Boys Basketball Championship

UHSAA Class 2A bracket, schedule and results

2026 • UHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships 2A Boys Basketball Championship

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UHSAA Class 1A bracket, schedule and results

2026 • UHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships 1A Boys Basketball Championship

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The final group of prospects took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, as the offensive linemen worked out to close the book on the 2026 NFL Combine. Like many of the other positions, there were a lot of athletic performances by the blockers. Here is the cream of the crop.

Spencer Fano/OL/Utah

Fano made headlines even before the offensive linemen took to the field, as his arms measured a meager 32-1/8 inches, failing to reach the necessary 33 inches many teams require for a left tackle. Just like last year, I’m noticing there has been a large discrepancy in arm measurements for players who participated in the Senior or Shrine Bowl and their arm lengths here at the combine, with players coming up ½ inch to ¾ inch shorter in Indianapolis. So let’s see what Fano’s arm length measures during the Utah pro day, which takes place on March 19, before raising the red flags. Despite his seemingly short arms, Fano turned in a terrific combine workout. He timed 4.91 seconds in the 40 with a 1.72-second 10-yard split and touched 32 inches in the vertical jump, a terrific mark for a 311-pound lineman. He was light on his feet during drills, smooth, and moved with incredible ease. He also displayed terrific hand punching in bag drills. Is Fano a tackle in the NFL, or is he a guard? That’s the conversation that will take place over the next six weeks and could cause his draft stock to move a half-dozen selections.

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Max Iheanachor/T/Arizona State

After his phenomenal showing at the Senior Bowl, Iheanachor had another sterling performance at the combine. His 40 time of 4.91 seconds tied Fano as the second-fastest of the day, one-hundredth of a second behind Logan Jones’ 4.90. Of course, Iheanachor is 10 pounds heavier than Fano and 22 pounds heavier than Jones after tipping the scale at 321 pounds. In drills, he was quick-footed and moved with balance and agility. He violently hit the bags with an explosive hand punch and looked good from start to finish. Iheanachor’s draft trajectory has been on a straight shot north since September, and it’s not out of the question that he lands in the late part of Round 1.

Enrique Cruz/T/Kansas

Cruz, who wasn’t on the scouting radar to start the season, had one of the best total workouts from the offensive line group. He timed 4.94 seconds in the 40 with a 10-yard split of 1.74 seconds after measuring in at over 6 feet 5 inches and 313 pounds. His vertical jump of 35 inches is one of the best ever turned in by a lineman at the combine. He was terrific in drills, displaying quick feet and leverage and looking athletic in each exercise. He was agile, ran incredibly well, and looked very athletic. Considering the season he had in 2025, coupled with his showing at the combine, scouts believe Cruz is a two-year project with starting potential on Sundays.

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Monroe Freeling/T/Georgia

Freeling, who broke into the UGA starting lineup later in the last season on a full-time basis, showed why scouts are excited about him. His testing numbers were terrific, as Freeling timed 4.93 seconds in the 40 with a very quick 10-yard split of 1.71 seconds. His vertical mark of 33.5 inches was also solid. Freeling looked really athletic in drills, moving well around the field and displaying good balance. He easily slid side to side in pass-protection drills and showed good hand punch. Freeling faded late in the workout, yet he has done enough to cement himself as an early second-round selection.

Blake Miller/T/Clemson

Miller is all over draft boards, yet he made his case to be a top-75 pick at the combine. Known as a big, small-area blocker, Miller showed a lot of athleticism during testing and drills. He timed 5.04 seconds in the 40, almost two-tenths faster than scouts expected, and had a 10-yard split of 1.75 seconds. His vertical jump mark of 32 inches was also very good for the 6-foot-7, 317-pound blocker.

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Logan Jones/C/Iowa

Jones is considered one of the most athletic centers available in the draft, and he proved as much at the combine. He timed 4.9 seconds in the 40 with a 10-yard split of 1.74 seconds. He hit 32 inches in the vertical jump and then translated that athleticism onto the field during drills. His arms measured 30¾ inches, which will be a red flag for teams even if an adjustment is made during pro day. Yet considering his testing numbers match his style of play, Jones will be a solid Day 3 pick for a zone-blocking offense.

Jager Burton/C/Kentucky

Burton was much more athletic than anyone expected, timing 4.94 seconds in the 40 with a quick 10-yard split of 1.76 seconds. He moved well in position drills, displaying excellent footwork and the ability to slide in space, an inconsistency in his game from college.

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Anez Cooper/G/Miami

Cooper decided not to test here at the combine and will wait until the Miami pro day, which takes place on March 23. Yet he looked terrific in position drills. He easily moved his 334-pound frame around the field, displaying good footwork and the ability to slide. Cooper kept his knees bent and went through all the drills with proper leverage.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A pilot from Boulder City was killed in a plane crash Saturday morning near the Nevada-Utah border, according to information from the National Transportation Safety Board.

Wreckage from the small plane was shown in photos posted by Hurricane Valley Fire & Rescue early Saturday afternoon. The crash was reported at about 10 a.m. Saturday, officials said.

Authorities did not release the pilot’s name, but they did indicate the pilot was female. An NTSB spokesperson said the pilot was flying with a group of pilots, and the wreckage showed what appears to be an older plane. A second pilot landed his plane near the crash site and called for help. The NTSB is now investigating the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration released this statement: “A Vans RV-8 crashed in St. George, Utah, around 10:45 a.m. local time on Saturday, Feb. 28. Only the pilot was on board. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates.”

The rescue unit from Hurricane reported that the crash site was south of the city near the Utah-Arizona border.

Paramedics found the pilot dead when they arrived on scene.

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LOGAN, Utah (ABC4) — An anonymous donor has pledged $2.5 million to Aggie athletics as the school enters its first season in the Pac-12 conference.

Cameron Walker, Utah State University’s director of athletics, announced the sizeable gift Monday. The donation will be paid out over a five-year period.

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“I am deeply grateful for the generosity and the significant impact this gift will have on the future of Utah State Athletics,” Walker said.

According to a university press release, the gift was motivated by the donor’s belief in the department’s vision and potential heading into a new conference.

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Utah State Athletics will begin its inaugural season in the Pac-12 Conference in 2026, leaving the Mountain West Conference.

“Our goal is not only to compete in the Pac-12 but to excel,” Walker added. “Gifts like this provide crucial support for our coaching staff and student-athletes as they strive for competitive excellence.”

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The university recently launched the “Show Me” initiative, which aims to strengthen the athletics’ department before entering the Pac-12 with investments like this one.

The initiative hopes to receive $20 million by Aug. 1, 2026.

“Utah State needs more dedicated supporters to help us achieve these ambitions,” Walker concluded.

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Mammoth rumors: Utah expected to be ‘very active’ at NHL trade deadline, looking for 1st playoff berth appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Currently the Western Conference’s top wild card team, the Utah Mammoth are on the precipice of franchise history. If the current results hold or improve, the Mammoth will make their first playoff appearance since their relocation. Due to this goal, NHL insider Greg Wyshynski shared one league source’s opinion on the Mammoth’s “active” focus to improve the roster on social media.

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“They’re going to be very active,” the NHL source told Wyshynski. “They’ve got their hands in a million different pies right now.”

The Mammoth could look to improve in a few areas. The Athletic recently opined that the franchise would look for an experienced top-nine forward whose age and contract would fit with their current core long-term. There are quite a few high-priced scoring options out there, but a player like the St. Louis Blues’ Robert Thomas or the Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson could fit the mold of a solid addition. Will Utah GM Bill Armstrong look to make a move like trading for Thomas or Pettersson to improve the Mammoth’s attack?

Mammoth searching for first playoff berth since relocation to Utah

The Mammoth’s current Wild Card spot would feature a tough opening round matchup. However, this is a talented, young team. Players like Logan Cooley, Mikhail Sergachev, and JJ Peterka should be fixtures of Utah’s lineup for years to come. The emerging core has responded well to Andre Tourigny’s coaching staff since he took over while the franchise was still in Arizona.

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It appears as if this new core is ready to lead the Mammoth back to contention. A playoff trip would be Salt Lake City’s first to witness up close. If Armstrong can bring a player like Thomas aboard, the winger could grow alongside players like Cooley and Sergachev. Furthermore, it would boost Utah’s chances at not only making the postseason but also causing more damage once it makes it into the dance.

Related: Mammoth GM lays out team’s trade deadline plans

Related: Mammoth rumors: Utah considered replacing Andre Tourigny with Pete DeBoer earlier this season