While it wasn’t a year in which Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks got many extensive reps on the floor due to his brutal ankle injury suffered earlier in the season, it seems his recovery and shift back to basketball form is ramping up rather nicely, with the 21-year-old apparently on an upward trend physically, prepared to get back to 100% later this July.

And with Hendricks’ return to the lineup soon to come, it looks like his sights are set high to make an immediate impact when he’s back on the floor next season for Utah.

Hendricks recently sounded off on a bit of his personal expectations for his third year in the league next season during his end-of-season presser, where he noted his ultimate goal of becoming an impactful two-way force in the Jazz’s lineup.

“Just to be that go-to defender; be our best all-around defender,” Hendricks said. “Blocking shots, guarding on the perimeter. And then, just being very solid offensively, someone that Coach Hardy can trust.”

For the Jazz, finding that number-one, versatile defender on the roster will be insanely critical for their success on the floor moving forward. Utah has had their immense struggles on the defensive side of the ball for the past two seasons, falling in as one of the worst-ranked defensive teams in the NBA, making the need for high-level, tenacious defenders that much more important.

This year’s draft does present an opportunity to land those aspired defenders, but when looking at what the Jazz have on their current roster with a guy like Hendricks, there’s a golden opportunity for him to emerge as that defensive piece, and especially so when he’s back to full health.

Before getting injured this season, Hendricks was averaging 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, and while it does come off an extremely small sample size of three games, the Jazz forward has clearly exhibited since being drafted that he has the length, versatility, and defensive skillset to hone into one of the best overall on or off-ball matchups in the NBA.

Offensively, Hendricks has the chance to elevate into an increased, more impactful role as well. Especially with his size and appealing floor spacing, he can develop into a dangerous mismatch for opposing defenses with the right tools.

Utah may not have big plans for him to develop into a top two or three scorer on the roster at his best, but as a connecting piece with productive traits on both sides of the floor, Hendricks’s archetype can be a huge asset to have within any NBA rotation.

And when asking Hendricks himself, he clearly has the confidence he can put those pieces together to do so ahead of next season. If he can, it’ll be an immense boost to what this Jazz unit can put out on both ends of the floor for, not just the coming year, but for the foreseeable future too.

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With April being Stress Awareness Month and National Exercise Day on April 18th, it’s the perfect time to highlight how movement and fitness can play a powerful role in managing stress and boosting mental health.

Utah was recently ranked among the most stressed-out states in the country.

Planet Fitness can help you ease that tension, both physically and mentally.

Exercise is one of the most effective and accessible ways to manage stress. It improves sleep, boots your mood, and gives you a break from daily pressures.

Planet Fitness wants to make your experience welcoming, affordable and judgment free — whether you’re a seasoned gym-goer or are just getting started.

Planet Fitness locations across Utah – and nationwide – are offering a free “Tax Day” HydroMassage to members and non-members from April 12 to 19, 2025.

HydroMassage is a great introduction to what Planet Fitness is all about—creating an approachable, supportive environment where people feel taken care of.

Free fitness training is included with every membership, so members can build confidence and routines that work for their personal goals.

Fitness should be flexible—and that’s why the free Planet Fitness App includes hundreds of on-demand workouts from yoga to strength training, available to members and non-members alike.

With 15 locations here in Utah and over 2,700 clubs across all 50 states, it’s easy to find a location near you, and many of the clubs are open 24 hours to fit your schedule.

Visitplanetfitness.com for more information.

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah track & field team is set to host its lone home meet of the season this Saturday, April 12, starting at 10 a.m. (MDT) inside the McCarthey Track & Field Complex. Meanwhile, a select group will travel up north to Ogden for the Weber State Spring Classic on Friday, April 11. Admittance is FREE for all in attendance.
 
UTAH SPRING CLASSIC
DATES: April 12, 2025
WHERE: Salt Lake City, UT
LOCATION: McCarthey Family Track & Field Complex
MEET SCHEDULE: View Schedule
LIVE RESULTS: Live Results
UTAH PARTICIPANTS: Chelsea Amoah, Lela Divinity, Annie Ivins, Bailey Kealamakia, Sona Kourilova, Megan Rose, Chloe Shewell, Chloe Taylor, Shana Van Elderen
 
WEBER STATE SPRING CLASSIC
DATES: April 11, 2025
WHERE: Ogden, UT
LOCATION: Chick Hislop Outdoor Track
MEET SCHEDULE: View Schedule
UTAH PARTICIPANTS: Chelsea Amoah, Lela Divinity, Annie Ivins, Bailey Kealamakia, Claire Le Gallo, Emily Martin, Megan Rose, Chloe Taylor
 
OFF THE BLOCKS
Heading into the lone home meet, Chelsea Amoah, Lela Divinity, Sona Kourilova and Chloe Taylor will all be making their home debut as part of the Utah track & field team. Amoah, Divinity and Kourilova are in their first year with the Utes while Taylor is in her second but didn’t get to compete at home due to the meet being canceled because of inclement weather.
 
KIDS RACE
The annual Kids Race at the Utah Spring Classic returns once again, starting at 12:20 p.m. (MDT) on the southeast corner of the track. For questions, please check in with a marketing representative by the entrance ahead of the race.
 
SENIOR CEREMONIES
The Utah cross country and track & field program will bid farewell to nine seniors on Saturday, April 12, starting at 12:30 p.m. (MDT) along the homestretch. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to help the program honor McKaylie Caesar, Emily Chaston, Annie Ivins, Morgan Jensen, Bailey Kealamakia, Clara Mayfield, Megan Rose, Chloe Shewell, Chloe Taylor.
 
CALIFORNIA LOVE
The Utah track & field team had a solid weekend in the State of California, seeing 10 new entries in the all-time record book for the Utes between the two meets at Stanford and UCLA. The Women of Utah continued to have success on The Farm, posting eight new entries while the squad at UCLA made two new entries into the record book.
 
UP NEXT
The Utes will continue its busy month of April as it heads to the Pacific Northwest to compete at the Oregon Team Open (April 18) and Oregon Team Invitational (April 19) at the reimagined Hayward Field.
 
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com, on social media by following on Facebook, X and Instagram or stay connected with Utah360, the official mobile app of Utah Athletics through the App Store or Google Play.
 

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