The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Utah’s bid to gain control over millions of acres of federal land, dealing a blow to the state’s efforts to assert greater authority over its natural resources.

Why It Matters

Federal agencies currently oversee nearly 70 percent of Utah’s land, including areas crucial for energy production, mining, grazing and outdoor recreation. Utah officials have argued that state control would ensure better local governance and unlock revenue opportunities through taxation and development. However, the state’s proposal excluded its iconic national parks and monuments from the transfer.

Utah’s push for control highlights a broader debate over federal land management in the West, where sprawling landscapes often fall under the jurisdiction of agencies like the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Critics of federal oversight argue it limits economic potential, while supporters counter that it safeguards public lands for conservation and recreational use.

What To Know

In a brief order on Monday, the high court denied the Republican-led state’s request to file a lawsuit aimed at transferring ownership of approximately half of Utah’s federally managed land, an area comparable in size to South Carolina.

The Supreme Court, as is customary in such instances, provided no explanation for its decision, stating only that “the motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied.”

The decision comes after Utah sued in August to try to gain control of 18.5 million acres that is held by the federal government.

The filing, which state leaders said was the result of “decades of legal analysis,” targeted BLM land “unappropriated” to parks, monuments or other national sites.

According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams, House Speaker Mike Schultz and Attorney General Derek Brown said they were disappointed in the court’s decision.

The federal Bureau of Land Management declined to comment to The Associated Press.

What People Are Saying

Republican Utah Governor Spencer Cox said in August: “Utah deserves priority when it comes to managing its land. It’s been a tragedy to see what this administration and past administrations have done to our land, closing down roads that have been open for generations.”

Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams, House Speaker Mike Schultz and Attorney General Derek Brown said in a statement to The Salt Lake Tribune: “We are also heartened to know the incoming [Trump] administration shares our commitments to the principle of ‘multiple use’ for these federal lands and is committed to working with us to improve land management. We will continue to fight to keep public lands in public hands because it is our stewardship, heritage and home.”

Utah House Minority Leader Angela Romero, a Democrat, praised the Supreme Court’s decision in a statement to The Salt Lake Tribune as a “win for all Americans and the protection of our environment. Today’s actions serve as an important reminder that our public lands should not be privatized or exploited for short-term benefits.”

What Happens Next

While it’s unclear what state officials will do next, the state said in a statement to The Salt Lake Tribune that they “remain able and willing to challenge any BLM land management decisions that harm Utah.”

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear Utah’s challenge against public lands, striking a major blow to the state’s effort to wrest control of millions of acres of land from the federal government.

The state in August filed a lawsuit asking the court to declare the federal Bureau of Land Management’s ownership of 18.5 million acres of land in Utah unconstitutional, with potential ramifications for public lands across the country.

The filing, which state leaders said was the result of “decades of legal analysis,” targeted BLM land “unappropriated” to parks, monuments or other national sites.

Utah argued the BLM’s ownership and oversight of that land harms the state’s sovereignty and that the federal government should start to “dispose of these lands.”

“We’re grateful the Supreme Court swiftly rejected the State of Utah’s misguided land grab lawsuit,” Steve Bloch, legal director for the environmental nonprofit Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, said in a statement. “For more than 100 years, the Supreme Court has affirmed the power of the federal government to hold and manage public lands on behalf of all Americans.”

The state has paid Clement & Murphy, PLLC, a law firm based in Virginia, over $500,000 since 2023 to litigate the case.

Utah has also budgeted over $2.6 million for a public relations campaign to raise “awareness” that the BLM’s policies for public land in the West “are harming Utahns by restricting access to public lands, hindering active management, and reducing economic and recreation opportunities.”

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance in December sued the Utah governor and attorney general for bringing this case to the Supreme Court.

The group wants the state 3rd District Court to bar Utah from questioning the constitutionality of “unappropriated” public lands in any court.

The Utah Jazz will soon be beneficiaries of the Minnesota Timberwolves in this year’s 2025 NBA Draft, thanks to the Rudy Gobert trade back in the summer of 2022. In that deal, the Utah Jazz got a plethora of draft capital, including the pick where we selected fan favorite point guard, Keyonte George (16th pick in 2023). The Timberwolves’ pick is currently slotted at the 16th pick in the upcoming draft but are only two games away from being tied for the projected 9th overall pick in the draft! Let’s take a closer look at two prospects the Utah Jazz could select.

Egor Demin: BYU

Egor Demin’s stats: 11.1 PPG | 4.2 RPG | 5.8 APG | 1.5 SPG | 43% FG | 29% 3FG | 67% FT

After a scorching hot start, the BYU Cougars 6’9 point guard, Egor Demin, has begun to fall in mock drafts due to poor performance vs high-level competition. Egor Demin was a highly touted prospect coming into the draft, and in his first few weeks of action with the Cougars he was projected as a top 4 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Showing a display of phenomenal court vision, precise passing, great athleticism, and the ability to finish around the rim, many draft analysts fell in love with his tools and unteachable abilities which launched him in draft conversations early. However, his recent play has drawn negative buzz, and analysts are asking themselves if Demin is even worthy of being selected with a lottery pick.

So, what went wrong? Why is Demin not projected to go top 5 anymore, let alone inside of the top 10? Now, Demin can be drafted in the top 10 because all it takes is one team, and who knows, that team could be the Utah Jazz. Egor has not been playing like it since his matchup on December 3rd vs Providence where he tallied 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, and shooting a total of 0/10 FG, 0/5 from 3, and 6/6 FTM. This was by far the worst performance anyone has seen out of the projected top 5 picks in the draft, and possibly the worst out of every projected lottery pick thus far. Things have gotten better since then, but not by much. He struggles to create his own shot meaning he cannot generate anything without a screen. His 3-point struggles have been apparent, and the FT% indicates that he is further behind on the shot than what we once thought. If he cannot do these things, should we consider him a point guard or a lead ball-handler? I think not. I believe that Egor Demin is a point forward or a wing who can be utilized as a connective passer.

Another important consideration with Egor is his current status as a questionable primary ball handler which I stated earlier. His limited offensive bag raises concerns about his ability to create offense in isolation or under pressure. This lack of a complete offensive game could mean that Demin will need to transition to more of an off-ball role in the NBA, at least in the early stages of his career.

However, this shift to off-ball play brings up an additional question: if Demin struggles to shoot consistently, what will his overall offensive impact be at the next level? In today’s NBA, off-ball players often rely on their shooting ability to space the floor, and without a reliable jumper, it becomes harder to contribute meaningfully during games. His inability to stretch the floor could limit his definitiveness, especially if opposing defenses can sag off him and give him less space to operate — essentially giving him “the Ben Simmons treatment”.

Though these concerns and questions are scary, they are not permanent either. They can be improved upon, and even if they don’t get better there is still a legitimate path for him to find success in the NBA despite it being harder, trickier, and possibly more unconventional. We see connective wings in today’s NBA that have a questionable shot such as guys like Kyle Anderson, Draymond Green, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Josh Giddey, so let’s not write him off just yet.

Why would Egor Demin be worth taking if you are the Utah Jazz?

Egor Demin is a truly exceptional athlete whose physical tools, combined with his advanced basketball IQ, make him a standout prospect. His unteachable passing ability sets him apart, as he consistently makes the right reads and demonstrates an innate understanding of the game. This rare combination of vision and court awareness allows him to operate effectively in a variety of offensive sets, creating opportunities for his teammates and maintaining fluid ball movement. In addition to his playmaking, Demin has shown flashes of impressive finishing ability, showcasing his ability to get to the basket and play above the rim. His explosiveness and agility make him a potent threat when attacking the hoop, and with some refinement, he could develop into a truly versatile offensive player.

One of the most compelling aspects of Demin’s game is his size and length, which are well-suited for his position. At his current stage, he fits the exact type of positional size the Utah Jazz have been targeting in recent years. his physical attributes allow him to impact the game on both ends of the floor. His length provides him with the ability to contest shots and disrupt passing lanes, making him a potential defender with time and development. His size will also allow the Utah Jazz to crash the glass at a much higher rate on both ends, ultimately bringing more possessions to the Jazz.

Despite his raw talent and promising traits, Demin is still a high-risk, high-reward prospect. His development will depend heavily on refining certain areas of his game, particularly his ball handling and shooting consistency. If he can improve his ability to control the ball in tight spaces and become more consistent with his shot, he has the potential to be a game-changer on both ends of the floor. His raw tools combined with his basketball intelligence make him an intriguing prospect with a high ceiling.

For the Jazz, Demin represents a unique opportunity to add a player with tremendous upside. With the right developmental structure and a focus on improving his weaknesses, he could evolve into a star who contributes significantly on both ends of the court.

BYU alums, Danny Ainge and Ryan Smith’s connection with BYU and their coaching staff is very strong. Back in 2022 as the Jazz were hunting for a coach, current BYU Head Coach, Kevin Young, made it far into the interview process but did not end up getting the job over current Utah Jazz HC Will Hardy. This connection between the two organizations provides the Jazz with inside information on everything about Egor Demin & his progression which could lead to smoother and faster development at the next level

Ben Saraf: Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

Ben Saraf’s stats: 12.8 PPG | 4.2 APG | 3.1 RPG | 1.2 SPG | 48% FG | 28% 3FG | 73% FT

Ben Saraf is a 6’5 left-handed guard that is playing for Ratiopharm Ulm, a club based in Germany. He broke onto the scene during the 2024 U18 Fiba Euro Cup where he averaged 28.1 ppg, 5 rpg, 5.3 apg, 4.0 spg, 1.0 bpg, on 45% FG and 36% from 3 leading Israel to 4th place in the tournament.

Ben Saraf is a player who has grown on me over time. Initially, I had him ranked lower than I should have, though I’ve always recognized his all-around game. His versatility, poise, and maturity for his age are standout qualities that have me rethinking where he stands among this class of prospects. Despite having positional questions in the past, I now see him as a highly dynamic player who can impact the game in multiple ways. The more I watch him, the more I believe he’s a potential top 8 talent, though it’s still early in his development. Most boards have him ranked around the middle of the first round.

Saraf brings a lot to the table on both ends. Not only does he boast good positional size and natural tools, but his feel for the game is also very impressive. He plays with more craft than he does explosiveness — even though he showcases his athleticism often — making him a unique player. He showcases impressive skill standing at 6’5 and solid strength, which allows him to play with versatility. His playmaking ability stands out, as he has a natural feel for creating opportunities for others and makes the right reads. Saraf excels in the pick and roll, showing a great understanding of how to manipulate defenders and deliver precise passes. His ability to snake dribble, score, and play off of two feet in the pick-and-roll adds to his dynamism and potential as a draft prospect. Saraf also displays a strong ability to absorb contact and finish in traffic at an effective rate.

His basketball IQ is another key aspect of his game, as he consistently makes smart decisions on both ends of the floor. Although he’s not considered a standout defender, his size and instincts should make him more manageable defensively than many other guard prospects.

He relies on his left hand extremely often and needs a lot of work to finish on the right side of the basket. However, his overall game shows a solid foundation, and with further development, Saraf has the potential to elevate his ceiling in the coming years.

Playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), Saraf is competing against some of the best talent Europe has to offer. The BBL is one of the premier domestic leagues in Europe, featuring a blend of established veteran players, young rising stars, and NBA-caliber talent. For Saraf, the level of competition is already much higher than what many NCAA prospects face. The players in the BBL are often seasoned pros with years of experience playing against elite teams in European competitions like the EuroCup and Euro League.

This exposure to high-level basketball gives Saraf an edge when it comes to preparing for the NBA. Unlike college players who may only face tough competition in a handful of games each season, Saraf is playing in a league where every game is against experienced players. The defensive schemes in the BBL are also more advanced than those in many college systems, forcing Saraf to constantly adjust and refine his offensive game.

“In Euro League it’s obviously just as tough [as the NBA]. The guys are athletic, maybe the spacing is a little different.” – BasketNews “Carsen Edwards Ranks Hardest Leagues To Score In” on YouTube

Playing overseas gives Saraf and advantage in terms of maturity and experience. The pace of the game in Europe is similar to the NBA, but the IQ and physicality of the players overseas force players to think through situations more thoroughly compared to how you would do it in college. This type of experience is invaluable as it prepares Saraf for the transition to the NBA, where strategic execution and adaptability are very important.

Both Demin & Saraf could add a lot to the table for the Utah Jazz as they continue to rebuild. If they were to land one of these guys with the Minnesota Timberwolves pick and pair them with whoever the Jazz select with their projected top 5 pick, I would be very optimistic about the direction of the franchise. Which one would I prefer between the two? Ben Saraf (Sorry, BYU fans).