New Jazz Forward Jarred Vanderbilt Holds Back To School Giveaway
Aug 22, 2022, 2:49 PM
Utah Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – New Utah Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt didn’t let his busy summer get in the way of giving back to his local community last week.
With schools starting across the country this month, Vanderbilt traveled back to his native Houston to donate backpacks and school supplies to students in the city.
According to KPRC Houston, Vanderbilt held the giveaway on Saturday to help those in the community.
“Growing up I didn’t really have this opportunity to go to an NBA player’s event and get free food and free supplies,” Vanderbilt said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Vanderbilt was acquired by the Jazz as part of the five-player, multi-draft pick swap that sent superstar Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
A second-round draft pick in 2018 by the Denver Nuggets, Vanderbilt was one of the top recruits in the country coming out of high school in Texas but missed a significant amount of time due to injury while at Kentucky.
The forward was traded to Minnesota in 2020 and quickly became a staple in the team’s rotation.
In addition to 500 backpacks and school supplies donated, Vanderbilt supplied food trucks for the neighborhood and haircuts for kids returning to school.
I grew up in a low-income, inner-city neighborhood,” Vanderbilt told the NBC affiliate in Houston, “so to see these kids be able to get free supplies and free food – I want to send these kids off to school the right way.”
Vanderbilt On Moving To Utah
Over the last two seasons, Vanderbilt has averaged 6.2 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the floor in 138 games in Minnesota.
Jazz general manager Justin Zanik called Vanderbilt “A high energy, defensive-minded 4-man.”
Justin Zanik on Jarred Vanderbilt:
“A high energy, defensive-minded 4-man that I think has some upside to continue to develop in our program.”#TakeNote | @kslsports
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) July 9, 2022
The Jazz believe there is still room for the 23-year-old to further develop his game in Utah.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to continue to grow and expand my game,” Vanderbilt said after being traded to the Jazz. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about this organization. I’m excited to be here and looking forward to seeing where this goes.”
Vanderbilt averaged a career-high 6.9 points and 8.4 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game last season.
