Utah knew the Noam Yaacov risk — now the waiting game begins
May 11, 2026, 7:08 PM | Updated: May 12, 2026, 11:43 am
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: Noam Yaacov #28 dribbles the ball during the game during the 2026 G League Combine on May 10, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — Noam Yaacov’s strong showing at the NBA G League Combine has added a new layer for Utah basketball fans this offseason.
His performance has naturally created concern amongst the fanbase: the better Yaacov plays in front of NBA decision-makers, the greater the possibility that he never makes it to Salt Lake City.
This was not a surprise development that caught Utah off guard. If anything, it is exactly why they pursued him. The risk was always understood, calculated and accepted as Yaacov has been viewed as the sort of player that will help Utah immediately right the ship.
Noam Yaacov blended passing and scoring at the G League Combine, showing his pace, vision and creativity making pick-and-roll reads all game.
13 points, 3 assists, 2 steals in 23 minutes for the 6'2 Israeli point guard. pic.twitter.com/4ZY4ifTjo7
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 10, 2026
Noam Yaacov has helped himself
Yaacov was one of 44 prospects invited to the 2026 NBA G League Combine in Chicago. The event was designed to give auto-draft-eligible prospects an opportunity to compete in front of NBA and G League scouts, coaches and front-office personnel, with select standouts earning invitations to the main NBA Draft Combine.
Yaacov’s participation in the G League Combine was always baked into the process for both sides. It was announced with his commitment to Utah.
And according to a source, the staff also fully believed and even expected him to perform well.
He entered the process as someone who was on the radar, but not widely viewed as a safe draft selection. Now, after a productive G League Combine showing and an NBA Combine opportunity, his profile has changed a little bit.
That does not mean he is suddenly a lock to enter the draft. It does mean the conversation has become more serious.
For a player like Yaacov, the concern is not necessarily that the entire league falls in love with him. More that it only takes one team. That is the risk Utah is now living with.
The understandable concern for Utah fans
The expectation remains that Yaacov will be leading the Runnin’ Utes next season. But Utah is in an undeniable waiting game with some risk now.
The program has built much of its roster vision around improved guard play, better spacing and more functional half-court offense.
Losing him would not wreck the entire offseason, but it would require an interesting pivot. One that again the staff was fully aware could happen. Utah would still have other backcourt pieces, but Yaacov’s combination of age, experience, passing feel and shooting is not easily replaced this late in the cycle.
That is why the fan concern is understandable.
But Utah did not walk blindly into this situation. The staff knew Yaacov wanted to go through the process. They knew NBA teams could take interest. That was the risk with such a highly talented player, one that fit exactly what Utah felt it needed.
Utah has been in constant direct communication with Yaacov and his party throughout the process. Not only that, but Alex Jensen and general manager Wes Wilcox have numerous relationships that will be able to provide them with genuine feedback regarding Yaacov’s stock.
After entering the event viewed more as an undrafted/fringe second-round prospect, Yaacov helped himself. This is not a concern over money. The concern is if one franchise believes Yaacov’s passing, shooting and professional background enough to — then Utah has a real fight on its hands.
Oostende’s Noam Yaacov was by far the best player on the floor in the third 2026 AWS G League Combine scrimmage.
Controlled the game with his skill, speed, moxie, and playmaking sizzle.
The Utah commit looks like a clear NBA Draft Combine call-up. pic.twitter.com/JljqQHkr8r
— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) May 10, 2026
A year at Utah, in the Big 12
The other side of the equation is just as important. According to the same source, Yaacov has helped himself, but there are still questions about his game and how it fits exactly in the NBA.
Those questions are not unusual for a guard his size and profile. NBA teams will likely want to see how consistently he can handle pressure, defend at the point of attack, create separation, finish against length and manage possessions against bigger, more athletic opponents.
That is why Utah makes sense. A year in the Big 12 would give Yaacov a chance to answer those questions in one of the most athletic, physical, and competitive leagues in college basketball.
For Utah, that is the sell.
Come to Salt Lake City, run a high-major offense, play through contact, defend elite guards, produce nightly against top-level Big 12 competition and enter the next draft cycle with a cleaner résumé.
That path could make Yaacov more than a fringe prospect. It could make him a more complete one.
According to the same source, the staff still felt comfortable with the risk because of the potential reward and the likelihood of it coming to be. Yaacov immediately raises Utah’s ceiling at the most important position in the program’s offensive rebuild.
A draft-and-stash? At Utah?
One wrinkle worth mentioning here is the new version of draft-and-stash — one that can now include college basketball.
The term “draft-and-stash” was synonymous with NBA team drafting an international prospect and keeping him overseas. However, recent changes have altered the conversation.
Last year, the NBA sent a memo to general managers that the draft-and-stash would now apply to auto-eligible prospects playing intercollegiate basketball. And when James Nnaji, the No. 31 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, was later cleared to play at Baylor because he never signed an NBA contract, it solidified the pathway where a drafted player can still play college basketball while an NBA team holds his rights.
That could matter for Utah here.
First, what is an auto-eligible prospect? There are two common definitions:
- International prospect who turns 22 years old in the calendar year of a given NBA Draft (Yaacov)
- Collegiate prospect who fully exhausts their college eligibility
So, if a team likes Yaacov enough to draft him but still wants to see him handle pressure, physicality and high-major guard play, Utah could theoretically become part of the development plan rather than lose him from it.
The risk is still real, but draft-and-stash no longer automatically means Europe or the G League. In Yaacov’s case, a year in the Big 12 could fit the NBA evaluation timeline too. This is an avenue where the background of Jensen and Wilcox could be a benefitting factor.
The Bottom Line
Noam Yaacov’s NBA Draft momentum is real, and Utah fans should be paying attention. However, it should not be viewed as Utah losing control of the situation.
This was always part of the deal. His G League Combine opportunity was known throughout his recruitment and the comfort level between the two parties with the that is a major reason why he committed.
Utah took a calculated swing on a lead guard talented enough to change the direction of its offense, and the same traits that made him appealing to the Utes are now drawing NBA attention.
The concern is understandable because it only takes one team to change the equation. But for Jensen and Wilcox, this was the cost of recruiting higher-end talent right now.
