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Utah Jazz win coin flip, guaranteed to keep NBA Draft Lottery pick

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Utah Jazz win coin flip, guaranteed to keep NBA Draft Lottery pick


SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz missed out on the NBA Playoffs, but still scored a big win thanks to a coin flip.

In Monday’s tiebreaker coin flip to determine who had the fourth-worst record in the league last season, the Jazz came out winners over the Sacramento Kings, who had the same 22-60 record.

Had the Jazz lost the coin flip, they would have been fifth in NBA Draft Lottery odds. Only the worst four teams are guaranteed to remain within the top eight of the lottery.

If Utah had fallen to fifth, there would have been the chance they could have dropped out of the top 8 teams in the lottery, and owed the draft pick to Oklahoma City, which was top-8 protected in a previous trade.

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The Jazz now have an 11.5 percent chance to win the first overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 10.





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Utah man charged after allegedly trying to kidnap Michigan girl

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Utah man charged after allegedly trying to kidnap Michigan girl


A Utah man is now facing charges after he allegedly tried to lure a young girl into a wooded area of Livingston County last week.

Ryan Josue Rojas, 20, of Herriman, Utah, was charged over the weekend with accosting a minor for immoral purposes.

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According to Michigan State Police, an 8-year-old girl was riding her bike on Rosemary Lane in Brighton Township around 7 p.m. Wednesday when Rojas allegedly approached her. Rojas is accused of trying to get the child to go into the woods for “a surprise.”

When confronted by the child’s father, police say Rojas fled. 

After putting out a be on the lookout alert Thursday, Rojas was arrested. He was given a $250,000 cash or surety bond.

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The Source: This information is from Michigan State Police. 

Crime and Public SafetyLivingston County



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Utah Celtic boys wrap up unprecedented run of 4 straight national tournament titles at MLS NEXT Cup – KSL Sports

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Utah Celtic boys wrap up unprecedented run of 4 straight national tournament titles at MLS NEXT Cup – KSL Sports


HERRIMAN — Patrick Stevenson remains uncommitted for his college soccer career, but he may want to consider signing with Real Monarchs after his latest performance at Zions Bank Stadium.

Stevenson notched a brace as Celtic scored five second-half goals in a 5-0 win over St. Louis Developmental Academy in the championship match of the MLS NEXT Cup U19 boys’ academy division on home soil.

So about that Monarchs plan?

“If that ever happened, of course I would. That’s the dream,” said a sheepish Stevenson, who will leave for missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Argentina this summer.”

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A backup plan of Division I college soccer for the former Utah Valley commit isn’t bad, either.

Neither is a national title

Stevenson is a newcomer to a group of 18-year-old Celtic players based in Orem who have played together since they were preteens. The club won the U.S. Youth Soccer Under-15 national championship in 2023, then added two more including U17 title last year in Orlando, Florida to cap what U.S. Youth Soccer said was the first time a team went back-to-back-to-back in the competition.
This year, Celtic joined MLS NEXT’s academy division, a newly branded national organization for youth soccer under Major League Soccer’s youth development system. After earning an invitation to the MLS NEXT Cup, Celtic took advantage of the 7,500-player tournament held on home soil for the first time.

“It’s so surreal,” said Brooks Barker, the Georgetown commitment who was named tournament MVP. “Being able to play with these boys year after year is special. We’ve really built a family here, and accomplishing anything your family is amazing. You’ll remember it forever — but national championships were last a lifetime.”

After a scoreless first half, Celtic started to roll. Air Force commit Ben Bradley opened the scoring off the club’s sixth corner kick of the match, and Brooks Barker doubled the advantage moments later.

The Salem Hills graduate who will leave for a church mission in Spain this summer finished off a sensational bicycle kick in the 63rd minute that gave Celtic a cushion it would never give up.

“That’s up there with one of my favorite goals of my career,” Barker said. “Everyone dreams of scoring a bicycle kick. It wasn’t perfectly clean, but for my last club goal ever — I’m going to remember it for a long time.” 

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But the green-and-white stripes weren’t done.

Corbin Gardner added a third off the boot of the Salt Lake Community College commit in the 73rd minute, and Stevenson found the back of the net less than six minutes later before finishing off his brace in stoppage time.

“All the boys are amazing,” said Stevenson, who joined Celtic a year ago after playing up a division with LaRoca FC most of his life. “We all play as a family, leave no regrets, and everybody just plays together.

“Right when I came in, they were so welcoming,” he added. “From the very first training, I felt part of the team.”

It’s about more than soccer, too, Barker added.

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“It’s less of a team, and more of a family,” he said. “We’re all there for each other in all of our moments: mission calls, celebrating each other, college commitments. We all play as a family, and it’s easier to play with guys who feel like brothers than just teammates.”

He also credited Celtic 07-08 coach Matt Bradley, who led the club the whole way.

“To be able to play with guys that you love with a great coach,” Barker said, “it makes all the difference.”



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A Utah Utes coach was ‘too negative’ with his players. Here’s how he’s changing his approach now.

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A Utah Utes coach was ‘too negative’ with his players. Here’s how he’s changing his approach now.


Gavin Petersen led the Utes to a 19-12 record, just barely missing out on the NCAA Tournament last season.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah women’s basketball coach Gavin Petersen says he’s had to change his approach to coaching since taking over for Lynne Roberts.



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