By Matt Gade

605 Sports

SALT LAKE CITY — In high school, Reese Ross wasn’t really known for being vocal on the basketball court. But the St. Thomas More alum was known for her work ethic on the court.
A work ethic that helped lead the Cavaliers to a Class A state championship her junior season,  in 2022, with a 25-point performance in the title game over Hamlin 52-30.

In high school, Ross wasn’t a vocal leader, but rather preferred to lead by example on the court. 

That willingness to put in the hard work is something Ross has continued to do at the collegiate level with University of Utah. 

The junior forward has started every game this season, leading the Utes in rebounds (6 rpg) and 6 blocked shots on the year.

“Vocalization isn't really something that I get asked to do a lot,” Ross said. “I think I lead by example. Every single day, I have a very gritty, hard, working and intentional mindset each and every day when I step on that court and I think too, that's something not a lot of leaders can obtain. So I've talked to (head coach) Gavin (Petersen) quite a few times, and we've just discussed like that, my role is to continue to lead by example.”

That gritty, hard-working attitude has led Ross to continue to get better each year since joining the Utes in 2023-24. 

As a freshman, Ross appeared in 31 of 34 games averaging four points per game and 3.7 rebounds. The Utes would finish 23-11 in their final season as a part of the Pac-12 Conference with a second-round exit from the NCAA tournament falling to Georgia 77-66 after a first-round win over South Dakota State 68-54.

Then in her sophomore year, Ross played in all 31 games averaging 7.8 points per game, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. 

The Utes closed out the 2024-25 season 22-9 reaching the Big XII tournament championship before falling to Texas Tech 75-64. The Utes fell in the first round of the NCAA tournament 76-68 to Indiana.

“One game that always resonates with me is my freshman year, guarding Cam Brink and playing against Stanford and competing as a 18 year-old out there with 22, 23 and 24 year-old people in the Pac-12,” Ross said. “I miss the Pac-12, it was really a really unique conference. 

“It was pretty, pretty dang cool to be a part of that. So that's one thing that stands out playing against Stanford and playing against Brink and all these really top, high level players at the time, and now they're in the WNBA, and I get to say, ‘Hey, I literally guarded her.’ That's pretty dang cool. It kind of takes you back, like, I'm not the biggest, not the strongest…. So saying I made it to this level in general, is just something that I really hold in high regard for myself.”

Since joining the Utes, Ross said her family has continued to be as supportive as possible in her collegiate career. Making as many games as they can to support her whether it’s games closer to Rapid City or conference matchups. 

Ross said she’s grateful for all the support she gets.

“Shoot, the older I get, the more I miss my family. It's kind of weird it's been you definitely start to take it for granted,” Ross said. “For sure, it's hard not having them here some days, some days it's nice to just want to hug you, just want someone telling you're proud of them. It does get a little bit lonely sometimes, but that's why I got teammates, that's why I got coaching staff, and that's why I got a good support system around you, because it makes those hard days a lot easier. Also my roommate, she's from Australia, so I can only imagine how she feels. And so if you really just stop looking at that little.on that big piece of paper, it's not so big as you make it seem. So I think it can be hard at times, but I definitely think it builds character.”

After losing in the Big XII tournament championship a season ago, the Utes were picked to finish eighth this season in the pre-season polls. A place that Ross said isn’t affecting the Utes this season. 

Utah's Reese Ross shoots a basket against the Washington Huskies at Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, UT on Saturday, November 15, 2025. (Liv Medivitz/Utah Athletics)

So far this year, the Utes are 6-3 with three more non-conference games before opening Big XII action Dec. 22 at Arizona.

“I don't know what it is, but playing in conference games and playing in the Big XII tournament games and postseason games, it brings out another side of me, individually and even as a team, like getting those wins is so important, and it's so crucial,” Ross said. “And I think I just love pressure. Pressure is such a privilege, and I think that is like the highest capacity of pressure that you can receive as a college athlete is playing in those type of games and those atmospheres.

“I think I have a unique role. It's very gritty, like I go out and I'll get a big board, or I'll create for my other teammates. I think that's what's very unique about the way I play. This isn't about me. This is about so much more I could give a damn if I had 30 points, 10 points, 15 points. It has nothing to do with that. I like to do the little things, the assist, the rebounds, the blocks, the steals, the defensive stops, creating turnovers, things like that. I think being that player is so important because there's not a lot of people out there that have that grind or grit to want to do that.”

Ross said while everyone has a goal of winning a national championship, that goal can’t happen without putting in the work during the season and in conference play. 

A realization she and her Utah teammates know they have to put in the work.

“The NCAA Tournament is always a goal, for sure, and for us just going on competing and leaving it all on the court, I think that's something that gets overlooked. Everyone's like, ‘Oh, I want to win a national championship. Oh, we want to make a Big XII tournament.’ Yeah, of course, everyone wants to do that, but you can't do that without hard work, intensity and consistency.”

One of the Utes upcoming Big XII games this season will be against Oklahoma State which will include St. Thomas More alum and former teammate Haleigh Timmer. 

Timmer, a South Dakota State grad transfer, is another lead by example type of player according to Ross. 

And someone Ross said she looked up to in high school.

“She's never been the most vocal or the most outspoken type of person, but she leads by example, and she definitely instilled that into me growing up being around her, and she displays it. She's been having a great season. I love to keep tabs and just check in on some of my fellow teammates,” Ross said.

While Ross is studying Criminology & Psychology, the junior said her plans for now are to continue playing basketball professionally after college. 

“I plan to play as long as I can,” she said. “And this idea of being centered on one thing right now at 21 years-old, kind of scares me a little bit. So I'm still floating around....I think there's still a lot of gray area in knowing where I necessarily see myself after basketball is no longer a thing.”

Utah's Reese Ross dribbles during the Utes game against the Utah Valley Wolverines at Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, UT on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. (Liv Medivitz/Utah Athletics)