Jazz Talk To Timme, Jalen Williams, More At Draft Combine
May 20, 2022, 4:59 PM | Updated: 5:06 pm
NBA Draft Combine (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The NBA Draft Combine is being held this weekend in Chicago, and though they don’t have any draft picks, the Utah Jazz sent representatives to the Windy City.
KSL Sports has learned of two high profile college names that have spoken with Jazz personnel at the combine, including CEO Danny Ainge who is in Chicago.
Gonzaga standout Drew Timme spoke with the Jazz at the combine as he prepares for June’s draft.
Collin Gillespie to Drew Timme for 👌Final day of the Microsoft Surface #NBACombine now on ESPN2! pic.twitter.com/agAweCAMCg
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) May 20, 2022
Timme spent three seasons at Gonzaga and became one of the most decorated college players in recent memory.
The throwback big man was a two-time consensus All-American, the 2022 WCC Player of the Year, and won the 2021 Karl Malone award handed out to the best power forward in college.
Standing 6-10, Timme averaged 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in his final season at Gonzaga.
KSL Sports has learned that the Jazz also spoke to fellow WCC standout Jalen Williams during the combine weekend.
Jalen Williams showed his versatility and skill with a strong all-around performance today, finishing with 19 points on 7/8 shooting. Made some nice passes and played strong defense as usual. Has a lot of NBA fans at the NBA Combine. pic.twitter.com/hND0bcTaQJ
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 20, 2022
The 6-6 guard had arguably the best weekend of any player at the combine and has likely worked his way into the first round of the draft.
Williams averaged 18.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in his third and final season at Santa Clara and was named to the All-WCC team.
The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov reported that two prospects at the combine have spoken with Jazz representatives in Chicago
Rutgers forward Ron Harper Jr. met with the Jazz and Warriors at the NBA Draft combine, he said. He measured in at 6-4 without shoes but with a 7-1.25 wingspan.
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) May 20, 2022
“Rutgers forward Ron Harper Jr. met with the Jazz and Warriors at the NBA Draft combine, he said,” Vorkunov reported. “He measured in at 6-4 without shoes but with a 7-1.25 wingspan.”
Harper Jr. is the son of long NBA guard Ron Harper who spent 15 years in the league and won five titles, including two with the Chicago Bulls and three with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Rutgers forward spent four seasons in college where he averaged 15.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists as a senior while shooting 44 percent from the field and 34 percent from the three-point line.
Harper Jr. is projected to be a second-round pick in June’s draft.
Seton Hall wing Jared Rhoden met with the Knicks, Nets, Clippers, Raptors, Celtics, and Jazz at the combine.
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) May 20, 2022
“Seton Hall wing Jared Rhoden met with the Knicks, Nets, Clippers, Raptors, Celtics, and Jazz at the combine,” Vorkunov also tweeted.
Rhoden, a 6-6 guard from Seton Hall earned an invite to the combine after a strong showing at the Portsmouth Invitational.
The guard played four seasons at Seton Hall and averaged 15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting.
The Jazz first-round pick (22) will be made by the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Mike Conley trade, while their second-round pick (52) is owed to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The NBA Draft will be held on June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
