Jazz Draft Three High-Volume Scorers In Second Round Of NBA Draft
Jun 20, 2019, 10:41 PM | Updated: Jun 21, 2019, 4:54 pm
Jarrell Brantley #5 of the Charleston Cougars reacts after their 58-62 loss to the Auburn Tigers in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Nearly three hours after the New Orleans Pelicans made Zion Williamson the first overall pick in the 2019, the Utah Jazz made their first selection in the draft.
Their second came just minutes later and was later followed by their third.
After trading into the second round by exchanging a future second round pick for the 50th overall pick in this year’s draft with the Indiana Pacers, the Jazz made Jarrell Brantley of the College of Charleston their first choice of the night.
A few picks later, with the 53rd overall pick, Utah made Justin Wright-Foreman its second pick in the draft.
Not long after that, Utah took Yale’s Miye Oni, the Ivy League Player of the Year, with the 58th pick. That selection was acquired via a deal for cash with the Golden State Warriors, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
With the 53rd pick, we've selected Justin Wright-Foreman out of Hofstra University! pic.twitter.com/6LuOMeXmap
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 21, 2019
The Jazz originally had the 23rd overall pick in the first round, but that pick was involved in Wednesday’s trade that brought in veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies. That pick was later traded to Oklahoma City who picked Dazius Bazley, who did not play organized basketball last season after taking a paid internship to train and work with the shoe company, New Balance.
Brantley is a 6-foot-7 big man from tiny College of Charleston who showed steady improvement in his four years in school. Last season, he averaged 19.4 points per game with 8.4 rebounds while shooting 51.7 percent from the field. Scouts and experts liked his shot-creating ability and impressive physique coming into the draft.
Jazz selected Jarrell Brantley with No. 50. https://t.co/G1ma4bbrLC
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2019
Wright-Foreman, like Brantley, also played four years in college and also like Brantley was one of the top players in the Colonial Athletic Association. He was a two-time conference player of the year and averaged 20-plus points per game in his last two seasons. He scored 27.1 points per game last season and shot an impressive 42.5 percent from beyond the arc on average of 7.4 3-point attempts per game.
One of the last players picked in this year’s draft and the first Ivy League player drafted since 1995, Oni left Yale after this junior year. The 6-foot-5 guard set single game scoring records for the Bulldogs in 2018-19 and averaged 17.1 points per game with 6.3 rebounds. Legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski predicted back in December that Oni would be a first-round pick.
Utah is selecting Yale's Mye One with No. 58, league source tells ESPN. Warriors sold it to Jazz.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2019
Finding scoring and especially, “snipers,” was a priority for Utah in the offseason, according to executive vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey. With their picks in the NBA Draft, it seems the team has added some offensive punch at a good value.
