Jazz Latest Workout Hints At Potential Draft Trade In
Jun 2, 2022, 2:09 PM | Updated: 2:16 pm
St. John's forward Julian Usher worked out for the Utah Jazz ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz continued their draft preparation with another workout on Thursday, including a few of their best prospects to date.
The workout included two groups of six players, including several players who have a chance to hear their names selected in the draft on June 23.
Here’s a look at the four highest-ranked players who worked out for the Jazz on Thursday.
The @utahjazz just announced a workout group for tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/eDCf3QXnTU
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) June 2, 2022
Jazz Draft Workouts 3 And 4
Julian Champagnie: Forward – St. John’s
Julian Champagnie was the highest-rated player at the Jazz workout on Thursday, and perhaps the surest sign the team is looking at potential options to move into the draft.
Champagnie had an accomplished three-year career at St. John’s where he averaged 19.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game during his sophomore and junior seasons.
Julian Champagnie hits the corner 3 off the strong laser pass from Scotty Pippen Jr pic.twitter.com/lOpa9pbxkN
— Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) May 19, 2022
The forward is a two-time All-Big East selection and was named the Big East Most Improved Player in 2021.
Champagnie is a near-lock to be drafted in the second round and one of the highest-ranked prospects the Jazz have worked out during the pre-draft process.
Iverson Molinar: Guard – Mississippi State
Iverson Molinar is a high-scoring combo guard out of Mississippi who burst onto the scene during his sophomore season when his scoring average jumped from 5.9 points per game as a freshman to 16.7 in his second year.
Molinar has tremendous quickness which he uses to get into the paint where he finishes well, or draws contact and earns efficient trips to the free-throw line.
The Mississippi State guard shot an elite 43 percent from the three-point line as a sophomore but saw that number drop dramatically to just 25 percent as a junior despite a similar number of attempts.
These NBA Draft Combine scrimmages is my first glimpse at a lot of these prospects. One of them is Mississippi State alum Iverson Molinar. Love the burst that he shows here on the drive to the rim. Also makes a great lefty finish through traffic. pic.twitter.com/NbhMwrlR6x
— Dakota Schmidt (@Dakota_Schmidt) May 26, 2022
His 6-3, 190-pound frame will limit who he can guard in the NBA, but his scoring ability is intriguing as a reserve point guard.
Molinar is a likely second-round pick but has even been projected as a late first-round draft pick in some mocks.
Lucas Williamson: Guard – Loyola
Lucas Williamson was another top 100 prospect to audition for the Jazz on Thursday.
The fifth-year senior from Loyola is a scrappy guard known for his defense who sports an intriguing frame at the NBA level.
Loyola’s Lucas Williamson preparing for the #NBA Draft. He’s already worked out for 4 teams. He’ll work out with the Lakers, Suns, Jazz & Kings next week. @lucasw2424 @RamblersMBB @foxkickoff pic.twitter.com/BX2FfUEvgH
— Cassie Carlson (@CassieCarlsonTV) May 27, 2022
“I modeled my game after guys like Marcus Smart, Alex Caruso, Jrue Holiday,” Williamson said. “Defensive-minded guards that are two-way players that can make plays offensively, but will get into you defensively.”
Williamson is a borderline second-round draft pick but may have to earn his way onto an NBA team via the G League or a two-way contract.
Stanley Umude: Guard – Arkansas
After an impressive four-year career at South Dakota, Stanley Umude transferred to Arkansas for his final year of eligibility and to test his skills against a high level of competition.
Unfortunately, the results were mixed. Umude was named to three All-Summit league teams during his sophomore-senior seasons at South Dakota but saw his numbers drop significantly at Arkansas.
But while his points, rebounds, and assists all dipped, his shooting numbers increased while playing in his final season in the SEC.
Umude has high-level athleticism and projects as a 3-and-D prospect at the next level if he can continue to knock down the three-point shot consistently in the NBA.
The Arkansas prospect projects as a late second-round pick to undrafted free agent on draft night.
