What Did Your Favorite Jazz Players Look Like In College?

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NCAA Tournament is here, after a one-year hiatus, arguably the great sporting event in existence is back for the next few weeks. With the madness overtaking basketball fans across the country, let’s look back at how your favorite Jazz players looked during their college careers.

First up, let’s look at the three Jazz starters who played college ball before finding their way to the NBA and into a key role in Utah.

Mike Conley

Mike Conley played just one season at Ohio State, helping lead the Buckeyes to the NCAA Championship game alongside number one overall pick Greg Oden.

Conley’s team would lose to Florida, ending his college career before becoming the number four overall pick to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Mike Conley
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell played just two seasons at Louisville before entering his name into the draft. The Cardinals had only moderate success during Mitchell’s two-year career, making it to the Tournament just once during his tenure.

The guard was a late riser through the draft process before landing in the lottery where the Jazz acquired him on draft night.

Donovan Mitchell
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Royce O’Neale

The first of many undrafted four year college players on the Jazz roster, Royce O’Neale began his college career in Denver before finishing it at Baylor.

O’Neale was never a big scorer, but played a similar role with the Bears that he does with the Jazz as a do-it-all defender and floor spacer, and helped lead Baylor to a Sweet-16 appearance.

After going undrafted, O’Neale wound up in Utah after a brief stint in Europe and has become one of the better role players in the NBA.

Royce O’Neale
(Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Jordan Clarkson

Jordan Clarkson split his college career between Tusla and Missouri before being selected by the Washington Wizards in the second round of the NBA draft.

The guard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night and quickly worked his way into the team’s rotation.

After being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Clarkson found his way to the Jazz late in 2019 and has become the frontrunner for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Jordan Clarkson
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Derrick Favors

The most highly touted high school and college prospect on the Jazz, Derrick Favors was the number recruit in the country before deciding to play for the hometown George Tech Yellow Jackets.

After one season which ended in the round of 32 at the NCAA tournament, Favors was selected by New Jersey Nets with the third overall pick where he played 56 games before being traded to the Jazz.

Derrick Favors
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Georges Niang

One of the more decorated college players current in the NBA, Niang was a consensus All-America, a three-time All Big-12 member, a Big-12 Tournament MVP, and won the Karl Malone Award given to the best power forward in college basketball.

Niang helped lead Iowa State to the Sweet 16 before he was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the second round in 2016.

After bouncing around the NBA, Niang has found a home as a sharpshooter for the Jazz in the second unit.

Georges Niang
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Miye Oni

One of the few Ivy League athletes to ever make the NBA, Miye Oni was a star at Yale before getting drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft.

The Jazz acquired Oni on draft night after the guard played in one NCAA Tournament over three years with the Bulldogs.

Miye Oni
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Juwan Morgan

Juwan Morgan was a three-year starter during his four-year career at Indiana. The big man helped lead the Hoosiers to a Sweet 16 appearance in his one trip to the NCAA tournament.

After going undrafted, Morgan ended up making the Jazz roster where he serves as the third-string center.

Juwan Morgan
(Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

Elijah Hughes

Elijah Hughes was a second-round draft pick by the New Orleans Pelicans before being acquired by the Jazz on draft night.

Hughes spent three seasons between East Carolina and Syracuse where he quickly rose up draft boards to become a legitimate NBA prospect.

The rookie’s season has been slowed by an ankle injury, but his ability to score the ball looks promising.

Elijah Hughes
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Udoka Azubuike

Udoka Azubuike set multiple records during his four-year college career at Kansas, including leaving the school as the NCAA’s all-time leader in field goal percentage.

The big man is a throw-back compared to most modern NBA center, but his explosive finishing around the rim made him a target for the Jazz in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft.

Udoka Azubuike
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Jarrell Brantley

Jarrell Brantley is in season two with the Jazz after a productive four-year career at the College of Charleston.

Brantley helped lead the Cougars to the NCAA tournament once during his career where they lost to Auburn in the opening round.

Jarrell Brantley
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Trent Forrest

One of the best college players on the Jazz roster, Trent Forrest never put up prolific numbers at Florida State but made the NCAA Tournament each of his first three seasons with the Seminoles for the tournament was canceled his senior season.

Forrest hasn’t had much opportunity to prove himself in the NBA, but his early showings in the preseason were promising.

Trent Forrest
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

View the entire gallery here.