The NBA Draft Lottery is right around the corner, causing the anticipation and anxiety to spread like a plague across the Salt Lake Valley. It is a pivotal moment in Utah Jazz franchise history. A chance to land a future Hall of Famer and a true potential championship caliber player in Cooper Flagg, or it is where we settle for a swing pick if we fall to 5.
Now, all we can do is wait, but what we do know is that we have another 1st round pick already set in stone, slotted at pick 21. There is plenty of talent in the draft, and the Utah Jazz have proven to be successful in selecting with later picks. From John Stockton (pick 16) to Rudy Gobert (pick 27) and more recently the promising talent in Isaiah Collier (29th) and Kyle Filipowski (32nd) — despite organizational changes — the Jazz have found talent, capitalizing on other teams’ scouting blunders.
Can the Jazz do it again this year with the 21st pick in the 2025 NBA Draft? Here are my personal top 3 picks the Utah Jazz should target at 21 (if available)!
1 – Labaron Philon | G | Alabama | 6’4 |
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Photo by Stew Milne/Getty Images
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My Ranking: 6th | ESPN’s Ranking: 43rd
Stats: 10.6 PPG | 3.8 APG | 3.3 RPG | 1.4 SPG | 45.2% FG | 31.5% 3FG | 76.7 FT% Player Comparisons: Rajon Rondo / Jrue Holiday / Rod Strickland / Jose Alverado
First things first, I have got to take some shots at ESPN and Jonathan Givony. Ranking Labaron Philon 43rd in their latest big board is a complete joke. He was very impactful for the Crimson Tide this whole season and played a big role in taking their team to the Elite 8 — they lost to Cooper Flagg and the rest of the Blue Devils. After their veteran guard, Latrell Wrightsell Jr, went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon in the first month of play, Labaron Philon came in and filled that secondary ball handler role next to Sears, where they won 15 of their next 16 games. I will touch on more of what Philon can do, but I just have to say that ESPN and media boards in general have criminally underrated Labaron to the point where I question credibility. 43rd, ha.
Labaron Philon is a defensive playmaker on one side of the court, and on the other, he is a pass-first, tempo-pushing point guard with a developing shot. Out of all of the draft-eligible freshmen, he is top 3 in assist-to-turnover ratio (A:TO), and of those 3, he is the tallest who also has the best defensive metrics. As I stated earlier, the shot is developing. After a rough start to the year in shooting the three-ball and free throws, Labaron Philon crawled his way back into the safe zone for prospect shooting indicators for a guard (>30% from 3 and a >75% FT). Other guards that had close to the same shooting indicators are Bradley Beal, John Wall, Anthony Edwards, Marcus Smart, Donovan Mitchell, Collin Sexton, and more. I am very optimistic that Philon will become a league-average shooter with time and repetitions. One of my favorite things about Philon is the pace at which he plays, it is slow and methodical. He reads the offense very well, he knows when to attack, and he knows where/when to make the right pass. Because he plays at such a methodical pace, it allows his teammates to run their sets cleaner, ultimately leading to the best possible look.
This draft cycle, I have been deeply valuing the importance of the ability to scale down. In a competitive team construct, being able to scale down and play off the ball has become vital to winning, especially for a guard and especially in the playoffs. Labaron Philon was in the perfect setting for practicing that skill as he played alongside Alabama star and First-Team All-American, Mark Sears. He was able to move off the ball, whether that be spotting up, cutting to the basket, or being in a position to make the quick extra pass for an open look. Philon embodied being a team player.
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Why Utah?
I get the confusion; we already have a guard-heavy roster, so why would we want more? I may be on a small island when it comes to our young guards, but I am not bought in on any of our guards long-term. Isaiah Collier had a year full of ups and downs; he broke the Utah Jazz total assist record (he surpassed John Stockton), but then he shot 24.9% from 3 and 68.2% from the FT line — those percentages are not positive indicators at all that he will be a consistent league average shooter, and a smaller, non-shooting guard does not sound very appealing to me. Keyonte George hasn’t shown much outside of being a potential scorer off the bench, but he will still likely be inconsistent and a defensive liability in bigger games.
He is exactly who I wanted Sexton to be, though Sexton is an electric 3-level scorer that Philon may not reach, but Philon embodies an impact driving, more old-school/traditional scrappy guard that are guys that I fall in love with almost every draft cycle (Jalen Suggs, Cason Wallace, and Stephon Castle — I am also a huge Andrew Nembhard fan). Philon is a perfect pick-and-roll guy with any type of big man. If we can get a well-rounded guard at pick 21 who impacts winning on a higher level, then I am picking them 10 times out of 10.
2 – Carter Bryant | F | Arizona | 6’8 |
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Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
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My Ranking: 14th | ESPN’s Ranking: 18th
Stats: 6.5 PPG | 4.1 RPG | 1.0 APG | 1.9 STK/G | 46% FG | 37.1 3FG NBA Comparisons: Jeff Green, Trevor Ariza, Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, Mikal Bridges
Carter Bryant is a swing pick that has shown plenty of production to be excited about. He is probably the 3rd best defender out of all freshmen in the draft behind Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe, nabbing a cumulative stock% of 8.6% (really good for a forward). He has an NBA-ready body with great foot speed, allowing him to keep up with quick offensive players on defense, and the athleticism to not only contest and swat shots, but offensively, he is a gifted cutter and mover off the ball. He has a relatively safe floor (ideally) as a 3&D wing with positional size, but we really did not see what he could do with the ball in his hands because of how guard-dominant Arizona was this year. Bryant totaled a usage rate of 16%, which is hardly anything — 92.3% of his made 3’s were assisted this year. What this entails is that a team could/probably fall in love with him after they bring him out for workouts. If Carter Bryant develops a game where he can create his own shot, then you are looking at a scary good player who could easily bring back top 5-10 value in the entire draft class.
Again, a player that is scalable. Carter Bryant doesn’t need to dominate the ball to be impactful, and it reflects in his production/numbers.
Why Utah?
The Utah Jazz already have a logjam at the forward position as well with the likes of Lauri Markkanen, Kyle Filipowski, Taylor Hendricks, maybe Cooper Flagg if we are lucky, and, depending on what position you believe he is, Cody Williams. However, the Utah Jazz have been the worst defensive team in the league for 2 straight seasons. If they want to get better in that area, they’d better start adding some defensive pieces to the roster, and Carter Bryant would be a great piece to that puzzle.
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Carter Bryant would likely be starting in the G-League for the first part of the year if we were to draft him, much like what we did with Taylor Hendricks.
Carter Bryant was everywhere for Arizona in the opening weekend of the NCAA Tourney—defending 1-5, rotating for highlight swats, knocking down 3s, finishing ferociously at the rim, and making countless hustle plays.
Despite his age, Ryan Kalkbrenner is one of the most seasoned and productive big men in the draft. A four-year anchor for Creighton and a multiple-time Defensive Player of the Year in the Big East, Kalkbrenner brings elite shot-blocking instincts, strong fundamentals, and the kind of rim deterrence that instantly improves a team’s backline defense.
At 7’1” with a 7’5” -ish wingspan, he’s an imposing interior presence who doesn’t chase blocks recklessly — he stays vertical, rotates early, and clogs the paint without fouling. He’s a classic drop-coverage center who excels at funneling drivers into tough finishes.
Offensively, Kalkbrenner is efficient, physical, and poised. He shot over 65% from the field, thriving in pick-and-roll situations, as a lob target, and with short post hooks. But what really elevates his profile in a modern NBA context is his developing ability to space the floor. His 34.4% mark from three — on low volume but growing confidence — hints at legit pick-and-pop potential.
The value of a center who can shoot cannot be overstated. It unclogs driving lanes, keeps defenders honest in ball screens, and forces opposing bigs out of the paint. In a league increasingly reliant on spacing, a stretch five — even in a backup role — adds valuable lineup versatility.
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Beyond scoring, Kalkbrenner is also a highly connective player. He doesn’t force touches, moves the ball quickly, and sets hard screens that open up teammates. He won’t rack up assists, but he plays within the flow of the offense and rarely makes mistakes. His processing speed and understanding of team basketball make him a low-usage, high-impact player, particularly for second units.
Why Utah?
Walker Kessler remains a strong piece for Utah’s frontcourt — an elite shot-blocker in his own right with real starter upside. But behind him, there’s room for a reliable, experienced backup who won’t disrupt the team’s identity when he checks in. Kalkbrenner fills that role seamlessly.
As a second-unit anchor, he’d bring consistent interior defense and a steady offensive presence, allowing Utah to maintain rim protection while adding more floor spacing and offensive polish than typical bench bigs. His ability to hit open threes and keep the ball moving fits well with Utah’s modern approach and young core.
Utah’s coaching staff could utilize Kalkbrenner to run second-unit pick-and-pops, giving guards space to operate while providing a safety valve around the rim. His plug-and-play skill set, experience, and floor-spacing potential make him one of the safest big men in the class, especially for teams seeking a specialized role rather than a star.
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I also believe that adding a floor spacing big man to the team would allow the young guys to flourish, especially Isaiah Collier — the pick-and-pop game between the two would be incredible.
MORE PROSPECT EVALUATIONS FOR PICK 21 WILL BE ON THE WAY SOON!
Honorable Mentions (I don’t think they will fall to us): -Collin Murray-Boyles -Asa Newell -Noa Essengue
I just want to wish everyone good luck in the lottery tomorrow. I am very scared, but it is out of our control (and out of the front office’s control). It is just basketball at the end of the day. May the odds be ever in our favor. GOOD LUCK!!!
The governor acknowledged Republican lawmakers are frustrated with the court, but “I didn’t have that same consternation.”
(Tess Crowley | Pool) Gov. Spencer Cox responds to a reporter’s question during the PBS Utah Governor’s Monthly News Conference held at the Eccles Broadcast Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.
Gov. Spencer Cox said he supports expanding the Utah Supreme Court from five to seven justices — something he had previously stopped short of committing to — and does not consider it to be “packing” the court in the aftermath of bitter disputes between the justices and the Legislature.
“It’s something that I do support,” Cox said during a news conference Tuesday. “I support getting more resources to the courts generally.”
That includes, he said, expanding the court of appeals and the district courts, as well, to speed up how long it takes for cases to make their way through the courts.
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“We’re not the state we were 40 years ago. We’re not the state we were 20 years ago, from a size perspective,” Cox said. “There’s a reason most medium-sized states to larger states start to move to the seven-to-nine justice range.”
The expansion of Utah’s high court was originally proposed earlier this year after the court had dealt a series of defeats to Republican lawmakers — halting a law banning almost all abortions in the state and limiting the court’s ability to repeal citizen-passed ballot measures.
Because the number of justices on the court is set in law, and not the Constitution, it would not take an amendment to change the number.
When the idea was floated of expanding the U.S. Supreme Court during President Joe Biden’s administration, Republicans cried foul, accusing Democrats of trying to tip the balance of the court by packing it with liberal justices.
Cox said it would be “weird” to look at expanding Utah’s courts that way, because all five of the current justices have been appointed by Republican governors and confirmed by Republican senators. He acknowledged there is frustration among Republican legislators with the court, but “I didn’t have that same consternation, and I think it’s a good idea.”
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The Utah Supreme Court has issued 58 opinions so far this year, 47 last year, but 27 in 2023. The average number of decisions over the past decade is 61, and over the last 20 years, the average was 72 rulings.
Last month, when Cox announced the nomination of Judge John J. Nielsen to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court, he said expansion was an idea “worth considering,” but didn’t endorse expansion.
In an interview at the time, Chief Justice Michael Durrant said expansion would likely slow down the court.
“We care about how quickly we get [a ruling] out very much, but more than anything else, we want to get it right under the law, under the Constitution,” he said. “Seven can make it longer, more people to disagree. … Five seems to be a sweet spot, at least for Utah, right now.”
Cox said that when he was interviewing candidates for the most recent vacancy on the court, “five of the six of them said their number one concern with the Supreme Court was the time it was taking to get decisions. So this is not me.”
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With Nielsen set to take his seat on the court, Cox will have appointed three of the five justices. Expansion would mean he would have filled five of the seven seats and, with Durrant expected to retire in the coming years, would have put six of the seven on the bench.
States have not frequently expanded their high courts, but in 2016, both Arizona and Georgia added two justices to their courts.
Arizona went from five to seven amid criticism from Republican lawmakers that the court was not conservative enough. Georgia’s grew from seven to nine, which flipped a 4-3 Democratic majority on the court to a 5-4 Republican advantage.
The number of rulings issued by Arizona’s court increased from 39 to 43 on average since the expansion. Georgia’s court has averaged fewer decisions since justices were added.
Whether it was praise from All-American voters or advanced metrics websites formulating intricate algorithms, all signs heading into the 2025-26 campaign pointed to Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano being the top tackle in college football.
Ahead of the Utes’ final regular season game, those proclamations took another step toward coming to fruition.
Fano, a preseason All-American and the No. 1 tackle prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft according to ESPN, was tabbed Tuesday as a finalist for the Outland Trophy, awarded annually to the nation’s best college interior lineman on offense or defense.
The All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America selected Fano, Iowa center Logan Jones and Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald as finalists for the prestigious award. It marked the second time in the trophy’s history that a player from Utah was named a finalist, as Fano joined four-year standout and former Carolina Panthers All-Pro tackle, Jordan Gross (2002) in that exclusive club.
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Gross, a former All-American who played for the Utes from 1999-2002, was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. Based on the buzz surrounding Fano, he could follow a similar fate. The most recent mock from ESPN had the 6-foot-6, 308 pound junior going No. 10 overall as the top-ranked offensive tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Fano had yet to declare for the draft going into Utah’s Week 14 game at Kansas (Friday 10 a.m. MT, ESPN), though it was clear that he and his teammates along the offensive line had surpassed the high expectations outsiders and head coach Kyle Whittingham placed upon them heading into the season.
The Utes (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) still had hopes of making the Big 12 championship game and College Football Playoff in large part because of its dominant rushing attack, which was spearheaded by their front line’s physicality in the trenches. Utah ranked No. 2 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing yards per game (279.6) and rushing touchdowns (37).
Friday’s contest against the Jayhawks (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) presented everyone involved in Utah’s ground game an opportunity to cement itself as one the best units in program history. Sitting at 3,076 rushing yards on the season, the Utes went into their Black Friday game needing just 188 more yards to break the program’s single-season mark of 3,263 rushing yards set in 1984. They also needed two more rushing touchdowns to surpass the team record of 37 set by the 2022 squad.
“The offensive line is really the driving impetus behind that,” Whittingham said regarding his team’s potent ground game. “I mean, we got a really good, athletic quarterback that runs the ball well, Wayshawn Parker’s coming into his own. But without an offensive line that can do the things that our guys have done all year, that stuff doesn’t happen.”
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The recipient of the Outland Trophy will be announced on Dec. 12 during the Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Trump administration’s move to no longer classify nursing as a professional degree has sparked concern for many in Utah who wonder what the change means for student loans and how they’ll be limited for future nurses.
Becoming a nurse isn’t easy, but for University of Utah Doctor of Nursing Practice graduate student Laura Linton, it’s a passion.
“I actually started out 20-something years ago as a nurse in labor and delivery, and I loved it,” Linton said Monday.
Now a graduate student, Linton went back to school to help make a difference in the nursing field. When she read that nursing would stop being considered a professional degree, her initial reaction was one of hurt.
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“A stab in the heart,” she admitted. “I feel like for someone who loves the field, and I have other people medical in my family, I think nursing is a very caring profession.”
According to the Department of Education, borrowing will be capped for graduate programs and professional degrees come July 2026. The new change will eliminate the Grad Plus Loan program and limit federal graduate student loans to $20,500 per year, with a total cap of $100,000.
The department claimed that loan limits will drive down the cost of graduate programs and that most students borrow below the annual limit, and said it would not have an impact on undergraduate programs.
Washington City father, daughter make helping Utah’s nursing shortage a family affair:
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Washington City dad, daughter make helping nursing shortage a family affair
Dr. Melissa Hinton with the Association of Utah Nurse Practitioners believes the new limits could hurt the workforce.
“At this point, nurse practitioner school is close to $100,000. A nurse is usually over $50,000. Those numbers being so concrete, just completely says that nurses aren’t important,” said Hinton.
When it comes to affordability, Rieneke Holman, Associate Dean of Nursing at Weber State University, says the price of their nursing programs is within those proposed limits.
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“We need people to go on and become nurse practitioners or nurse educators,” Holman said. “There’s so many different things in addition to bedside nursing that’s so important. All of those pieces are really important.”
For current students like Linton, she continues to work hard towards her degree.
“I think that nursing has worked hard to get the respect that it has,” she said. “I think that that’s kind of pulling away from that. That’s kind of a challenge for a lot of people.”
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