Everyone knows the NBA is a grind mentally and physically. But what differentiates the good from the best is their work in the offseason. The amount of time you put in when the cameras aren’t on and when nobody is watching. That’s what shows the true hunger for greatness. It’s one thing to make it to the league, but it’s a whole different battle to stay. For this young Utah Jazz team, it looks like they all want to stay because man have they been putting in work this offseason.

Body Builder Hendricks

Taylor Hendricks should be on everyone’s bingo card for a breakout season. After a rough rookie year heavily due to injury, this man has been busy. The former 9th overall pick has been destroying the gym during the offseason, and according to Coach Hardy gained around 20 pounds. During his media availability, Hendricks spoke about how much he focused on his body and how he needed it for the plans Will and the coaching staff have for him this season. He explained how he feels stronger but doesn’t feel like he ever lost any of his speed. Towards the end of last season, we were able to see glimpses of what Hendricks could become. So this season I will be extremely curious about how he uses this added size and strength to his advantage as well as what his role will be this upcoming season.

Lean Clean Sensabaugh

Brice Sensabaugh is another name to get excited for this season. In his media availability, he spoke a lot about how he’s been getting into the weight room and getting more into shape to be able to play a whole NBA season. He spoke about the improvements in his upper and lower body and losing some extra fat that got him more in shape. As a player who wasn’t afraid to drive into the paint last season, it’ll be interesting to watch what he does differently and how he implements the strength and explosiveness he’s gained. Brice also spoke about his improved playmaking ability and how his defense has improved. He talked about how he got faster and became more able to hold his ground on defense.

The great thing about having such a young team is that they’re hungry. They want to win and they know that if they want to become great in this league having a conditioned and healthy body should be very high on the list. From what we have seen in the past few seasons everyone has been motivated and nobody has been shying away from the grind. We saw it with Lauri, Walker, and Cody Williams made a big jump this offseason. It’s a long and painful season but this team looks built and ready.

The 21-year-old victim, Brooklyn Barrett, was remembered by loved ones as a “vibrant and promising young woman”

A Utah woman accused of murdering her friend in a botched suicide pact earlier this year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter, authorities confirmed.

Heavenly Faith Garfield pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a second-degree felony, on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and will be sentenced on Nov. 6, Timothy L. Taylor, Deputy Utah County Attorney, said in an emailed statement to PEOPLE on Friday, Sept. 27. She faces up to 15 years in prison, per the statement.

Garfield was arrested in April and charged with murder and felony discharge of a firearm after the shooting death of her 21-year-old friend, who was identified by family on a GoFundMe campaign and obituary as Brooklyn Michelle Barrett.

21-Year-Old Utah Woman Arrested on Murder Charge After Shooting Friend Dead amid Suicide Pact

On April 30, Garfield’s father called 911 to report the shooting, in which authorities said his daughter shot the victim in a Saratoga Springs, Utah, home, per an affidavit of probable cause cited by KUTV, the Associated Press and CBS News.

Officers who responded to the scene said the victim had a gunshot wound to the head and that her body had been covered with a blanket and there were flowers on a bed, Court TV reported.

“Investigators determined that Garfield and [her] friend had entered into a suicide pact and Garfield admitted to shooting [her] friend in the head,” Taylor said in the statement to PEOPLE. “After shooting [her] friend, Garfield did not go through with the suicide pact.”

According to the affidavit, the friends had reportedly been discussing the suicide pact for several weeks, family members said, the AP reported. The affidavit states a friend of the victim showed police text messages in which she said she wanted to die, but was too scared to kill herself. The friend also confirmed Garfield’s suicide pact with the victim to police, per the AP.

As part of her plea, Taylor said Garfield admitted to the following facts: “On or about April 30, 2024, in Utah County, Utah, I knew [friend] intended to end her life by suicide and I aided [friend] to commit suicide.”

Barrett was remembered on the GoFundMe campaign created to support her parents in the wake of her death as a “vibrant and promising young woman.”

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“Her unexpected departure has left her loved ones grappling with the immense pain and burden, preferring to focus on honoring her memory and celebrating the beautiful life she lived,” the fundraiser continued.

According to her obituary, Barrett was a 2021 graduate of Herriman High School and worked at a daycare prior to her death. She also enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors, the obituary states.

Taylor said the victim’s family “supported the resolution.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

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It is rare a team takes eight penalties and ends up winning the game 6-3.

But, that is just what the Utah Hockey Club did Sunday night against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.

Special teams have had an early impact for Utah this preseason and will have game-deciding implications when the regular season rolls around.

“In the regular season, you get that many penalties and you’re not happy,” head coach André Tourigny said.

Through four preseason games, Utah has taken 24 penalties and given up five power-play goals. Spoiler alert: That’s too many. The club’s discipline must be better, especially with the avoidable stick minors — slashing, tripping, cross-checking, high-sticking.

On Sunday, Miles Wood opened scoring for Colorado on the power play with a knock-in goal from the crease at 13:12 of the first period after Utah was called for too many men on the ice. Dylan Guenther responded with a power-play tally of his own just over five minutes later. The blast from the left circle, assisted by Mikhail Sergachev, tied things 1-1

Utah is lucky its power play has found some consistency. The team has scored five power-play goals in the preseason. Tourigny has experimented with different variations of the power play throughout training camp. Sunday night, Sergachev, Guenther, Clayton Keller, Josh Doan and Barrett Hayton composed the first unit — and it looked good.

The penalty kill units have cycled as well. Against Colorado, Liam O’Brien, Michael Carcone, Kailer Yamamoto and Michael Kesselring saw the bulk of ice time when the team was down a player. Goaltender Karel Vejmelka was one of Utah’s best penalty killers and finished the night with 26 saves.

“In our situation, it was good to give a chance to a few guys and see how they can [penalty] kill and if they can fill that role for us,” Tourigny said.

Utah gave up another goal to the Avalanche’s man advantage to open the second period. First-round draft pick Tij Iginla — in his first preseason game with the team — took a double-minor, high-sticking penalty. Colorado’s Sam Malinski took advantage, drove to the net and scored off his backhand for the 2-1 lead at 2:17.

“I thought we played a good game. We got in a little bit of penalty trouble — and part of that was on me — but I thought throughout the highs and lows of the game we managed momentum well, got to the net. Did little things like that that helped us win in the end,” Iginla said.

Guenther potted his second goal of the game, and third of the preseason, for the 2-2 equalizer before Cameron Hebig and Josh Doan both scored to put Utah up 4-2 heading into the third period.

Keller finished off a three-point performance with a goal at 6:15 of the third period. Guenther dished the puck to Keller across the crease where he one-timed it home to make it 5-2. Colorado’s Calum Ritchie scored at 13:23, but Jack McBain sealed the 6-3 win with an empty-net goal.

“Just try to improve throughout the game. That’s what the preseason is for, trying to improve and make sure that when Oct. 8 hits, you’re at your best. I thought we did that and we have to continue to do that,” Guenther said.

While Utah ultimately came away with the victory, the amount of time spent in the box is not conducive to winning nightly. Granted, this is preseason, it’s not a full NHL roster and the games technically do not matter, but good habits don’t need to wait until Oct. 8 to start.

Last season, the Arizona Coyotes were 15th in the league for power-play percentage at 22.0. Nick Schmaltz led the team with 10 goals on the man advantage; Keller and Guenther followed with nine each. Arizona scored a total of 53 power-play goals on 241 opportunities. It was fine.

However, the team’s penalty kill was 25th in the league at 76.3 percent. Arizona gave up 63 power-play goals on 241 opportunities, and 3.34 goals against per game — which was eighth most in the NHL. Utah’s penalty kill has looked much improved, it went 5-for-7 on Sunday, but it should not have to be used as much as it is right now.

General manager Bill Armstrong focused on strengthening his blueline and bringing in veteran experience this offseason. In hand, it has helped special teams. Sergachev and forward Kevin Stenlund — both acquired by Utah this summer — have valuable versatility on both the power play and penalty kill. Ian Cole has earned his keep in the league eating pucks and being a shutdown defenseman; a welcome addition to any PK unit. These things will make a difference — within games and the standings — for Utah.

The hockey club has three more preseason games to iron the details out before opening night against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 8 at the Delta Center.