The Jazz have two of the top dozen picks in the June 23 NBA Draft. A source said Thursday that while Jimmer Fredette isn't being looked at for Utah's No. 3 selection, he definitely will be given consideration if available at No. 12.
Consider the interest mutual.
"Yeah, that would be something that would be very cool," the star guard from BYU said Thursday at the NBA Draft Combine about the possibility of being drafted by the Jazz. "Obviously, I have a big following out there. I feel comfortable there. I have a lot of family and friends in the area. It's a good system, a lot of pick rolls.
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Jimmer Fredette
Fredette, a native of Glens Falls, N.Y., said he would be "very happy" if drafted by the Jazz. He said he would have no problem with being selected No. 12, saying it's "not how high I get drafted, it's all about the system and where I can flourish the most."
Jazz officials, who didn't want to discuss Fredette in Chicago, were to have an interview with him Thursday night at the combine. Among those who were scheduled to meet with Fredette include general manager Kevin O'Connor, director of player personnel Walt Perrin, head coach Tyrone Corbin and assistants Scott Layden and Jeff Hornacek.
Fredette anticipated sitting down with nine NBA teams on Thursday in Chicago. But most important for Fredette is what he'll be doing while standing up at the combine, which began Wednesday and runs through Saturday.
There's not a lot of doubters when it comes to the offensive ability of the 6-foot-2 Fredette, who led the nation in scoring as a senior with a 28.9-point average and was the consensus National Player of the Year. But he's determined to prove to scouts what he can do on the other side of the ball.
"I thought I impressed them," Fredette said about Thursday's drills. "Defensively, I thought I did pretty well on the one-on-one stuff. I think that's what they want to see mostly out of me. They know I can shoot the ball. But they want to see the defensive end and see the lateral quickness.
"There's definitely a perception (about him being a weak defender). When you get a stereotype, it's hard to get rid of that stereotype until you go out and they see it for themselves. … I'm looking forward to showing them I'm a complete player, a guy who can not just score the basketball."
Scouts will make a determination on whether Fredette can "D" up. But there's no doubt he can fill it up.
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