Ryan McDonald

Salt Lake City

Sports Reporter at Deseret News

Sports @Deseret. Come for the news, stay for the puns.

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Articles

This elite prospect was once committed to BYU before signing with Oregon. Now he's back with the Cougars

1 week ago | deseret.com | Ryan McDonald

Last November, four-star offensive lineman prospect Alai Kalaniuvalu announced his commitment to the BYU Cougars football program after previously being committed to the Oregon Ducks only to ultimately sign with the Ducks in December. On Tuesday evening, however, BYU announced that Kalaniuvalu has signed with the school. There hadn't been any public indication that Kalaniuvalu was looking to transfer from Oregon prior to Tuesday's announcement.
Are any college football programs in Utah among the 25 best of the 2000s?

1 week ago | deseret.com | Ryan McDonald

Last week, in recognition that 25 years of college football have been played in the 21st Century, Stewart Mandel of The Athletic took a look back at the top programs from the time period and then ranked the top 25. The Utah Utes cracked the list, coming in at No. 22.
BYU football gets commitment from Utah native, Hawaii transfer Alvin Puefua

2 weeks ago | deseret.com | Ryan McDonald

A Utah native is coming back home to play for the BYU Cougars. On Friday night, former Woods Cross High, West High and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors defensive lineman Alvin Puefua announced on social media that he has committed to play for the Cougars. Puefua's announcement comes after he had declared on April 25 that he would be entering the NCAA transfer portal.
How social media reacted to the Utah Jazz's bad luck in the NBA draft lottery

3 weeks ago | deseret.com | Ryan McDonald

It was worst case scenario for the Utah Jazz Monday evening in the NBA draft lottery. The Jazz, alongside the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets, had the best odds of getting the No. 1 overall pick in next month's NBA draft and thus the right to select Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg. The lowest the Jazz could have fallen was to No. 5, and that's exactly what happened, as the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers all moved up to get the top three picks.
Will BYU have 2 of the 10 best players in college basketball next season?

3 weeks ago | deseret.com | Ryan McDonald

Much has been made about the high level of talent that has joined the BYU Cougars men's basketball program since Kevin Young became head coach last April, but just how good are some of the individual players who will be on the roster in the 2025-26 season?
This former BYU player just did something only Babe Ruth had done

1 month ago | deseret.com | Ryan McDonald

Last season in his first week as a Major League Baseball player with the Cleveland Guardians, former BYU Cougar Daniel Schneemann made history by becoming the first player in MLB history to play six different defensive positions in his first six games. On Saturday, Schneemann did something that didn't quite make history, but the only other player who had ever done it was Babe Ruth.
Former BYU star Travis Hansen is reportedly a candidate for a job in the NBA

1 month ago | deseret.com | Ryan McDonald

Travis Hansen hasn't been involved in professional basketball since he retired from playing in 2013, but there's a chance that could change soon. On Sunday, veteran NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that Hansen is a candidate to become the Atlanta Hawks' president of basketball operations. The Hawks are restructuring their front office following a 40-42 season and losing in the Play-in Tournament.
Why Caleb Lohner and Jalen Royals were 2 of the most interesting players taken in the 2025 NFL Draft

1 month ago | deseret.com | Ryan McDonald

Of the 257 players taken in the 2025 NFL Draft that concluded Saturday, two with Utah ties were among the favorite selections of at least one outlet. On Sunday The Athletic published a story in which its NFL beat writers identified their favorite draft pick of each of the 32 teams in the league, and former Utah State receiver Jalen Royals and former Utah tight end Caleb Lohner made the list.
Utah football gets commitment from Texas edge Preston Pitts

1 month ago | deseret.com | Ryan McDonald

Early Monday morning the Utah Utes football program got a commitment from the transfer portal in former Auburn cornerback JC Hart, who will join the team for the 2025 season. Later in the day the Utes got a pledge from the high school ranks as part of their 2026 recruiting class, as edge Preston Pitts out of Clear Falls High in League City, Texas, announced his intention to join Utah.
Top NBA draft prospect Cooper Flagg is officially leaving college

1 month ago | deseret.com | Ryan McDonald

The Utah Jazz are one step closer to being able to draft Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg. On Monday morning, Duke announced that Flagg is entering his name in the 2025 NBA Draft scheduled for June 25. The announcement is a bit of a sigh of relief for teams who are hoping to be able to select Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, as there had been some speculation - albeit very minor - that he might return to Duke for a second season.