If the Utah Jazz brass does decide to select a big, many mock drafts have the franchise slated to draft Croatian forward Roko Prkacin. Although that would be a solid pickup, Prkacin is quite raw as a basketball player and would require significant development. Meanwhile, there is a big who would be able to come in and have an immediate impact: North Carolina’s Day’Ron Sharpe.
It’s common knowledge that Salt Lake City is the home of a top-five NBA center in Rudy Gobert. However, there can definitely be room for improvement in the backup position. Currently, Derrick Favors holds the backup center role, but his statistics have mostly decreased each season the past four years. And the jury is still out on Utah’s late first-round pick last year: Udoka Azubuike.
Adding a player like Sharpe could be exactly what the Jazz need to become even more lethal.
The freshman came off the bench for the Tar Heels and showed many glimpses of a guy who could become a formidable NBA player. During his sole season at UNC, Sharpe averaged 9.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in only 19 minutes of action per game.
When looking at his per-40-minute stats, it becomes evident just how impactful he was on the court. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 19.9 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per 40 minutes. Taking this into consideration proves just how good Sharpe is at his current state of development.
With the culture Utah has established, it’s only right to assume that Sharpe could reach his full potential as a Jazzman.
Regardless of what Sharpe could become, he is already one heck of a player. He is an extremely effective rebounder, an adequate low-post scorer, and a big who can hold his own on the defensive side of the floor.
The Utah Jazz coaching staff surely doesn’t want to lose so much defensive power with Gobert on the bench. Although Day’Ron Sharpe wouldn’t come close to replicating the same defensive productivity that Gobert brings to the game, there might not be a dramatic drop-off, at least in a couple of years, should Sharpe be on the court instead.
these Jazzmen</a> are on top of the basketball world, there is a possibility Utah can get even better via the 2021 NBA Draft.</p>
<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/13/utah-jazz-draft-prospects-instant-impact/2/"https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/09/utah-jazz-best-seed-era-guaranteed/">Jazz ensure their best seed since Stockton-Malone era</a></p>
<p>Chances are the franchise’s lone pick will be either 29th or 30th overall. However, this year’s draft class seems deeper than in recent years. There are some talents who could go as early as the lottery in other classes but are now falling on mock drafts to the middle or bottom of the first round. This works extremely well in Utah’s favor.</p>
<p>With the Jazz continuing to exceed expectations this season, if they are able to land any of these three prospects, then even more success may be awaiting next season…</p>
<h2>Utah Jazz draft prospect No.1: Joel Ayayi</h2>
<p>Looking at the Utah Jazz roster, it’s clear to see some areas for improvement. Besides Mike Conley, who is now 33 years old and will be a free agent this summer, there is no other proven pure point guard on the roster. Taking that into consideration and factoring in where Utah’s pick will be, <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/13/utah-jazz-draft-prospects-instant-impact/2/"https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/joel-ayayi-1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Joel Ayayi</a> could be one of the best options available.</p>
<p>The 21-year-old was a member of the Gonzaga team that nearly went undefeated this past season, until losing to Baylor in the title game. Ayayi didn’t play his best game against the Bears, as he only finished with eight points and two rebounds, but he provides much more on the court.</p>
<div class="embed embed-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/13/utah-jazz-draft-prospects-instant-impact/2/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/CROHJC8xH1c?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>During his third and final college season, the 6-foot-5 perimeter weapon averaged 12.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while shooting an efficient 57.5 percent from the field.</p>
<p>Ayayi also proved that he does show up during times that matter, as he had the best game of his college career in the Final Four against UCLA. The French hoopster — same as current All-Star Jazz center Rudy Gobert — finished with 22 points, six rebounds, and two steals, on an impressive 75.0 percent shooting from the field.</p>
<p>Most importantly, his playstyle fits everything that the Utah Jazz stand for. Although Ayayi isn’t an out-of-this-world defender, he does a great job on defense at being fueled by his fundamentals and energy. He is exceptional at racking up steals, as this past season he had two games with four takeaways.</p>
<p>Add all these strengths together, and it equals an ideal prospect for what head coach Quin Snyder has built. Joel Ayayi might not be one of the most hyped-up prospects in the draft, but he definitely can make an impact right away. The same goes for this next fella…</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/13/utah-jazz-draft-prospects-instant-impact/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Prospect No. 2 </a>
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<h2>Utah Jazz draft prospect No. 2: Day’Ron Sharpe</h2>
<p>If the Utah Jazz brass does decide to select a big, many mock drafts have the franchise slated to draft Croatian forward Roko Prkacin. Although that would be a solid pickup, Prkacin is quite raw as a basketball player and would require significant development. Meanwhile, there is a big who would be able to come in and have an immediate impact: North Carolina’s <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/13/utah-jazz-draft-prospects-instant-impact/2/"https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/dayron-sharpe-1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Day’Ron Sharpe.</a></p>
<p>It’s common knowledge that Salt Lake City is the home of a top-five NBA center in <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/13/utah-jazz-draft-prospects-instant-impact/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/goberru01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Rudy Gobert.</a> However, there can definitely be room for improvement in the backup position. Currently, Derrick Favors holds the backup center role, but his statistics have mostly decreased each season the past four years. And the jury is still out on Utah’s late first-round pick last year: Udoka Azubuike.</p>
<p>Adding a player like Sharpe could be exactly what the Jazz need to become even more lethal.</p>
<p>The freshman came off the bench for the Tar Heels and showed many glimpses of a guy who could become a formidable NBA player. During his sole season at UNC, Sharpe averaged 9.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in only 19 minutes of action per game.</p>
<p>When looking at his per-40-minute stats, it becomes evident just how impactful he was on the court. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 19.9 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per 40 minutes. Taking this into consideration proves just how good Sharpe is at his current state of development.</p>
<p>With the culture Utah has established, it’s only right to assume that Sharpe could reach his full potential as a Jazzman.</p>
<p>Regardless of what Sharpe could become, he is already one heck of a player. He is an extremely effective rebounder, an adequate low-post scorer, and a big who can hold his own on the defensive side of the floor.</p>
<p>The Utah Jazz coaching staff surely doesn’t want to lose so much defensive power with Gobert on the bench. Although Day’Ron Sharpe wouldn’t come close to replicating the same defensive productivity that Gobert brings to the game, there might not be a dramatic drop-off, at least in a couple of years, should Sharpe be on the court instead.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/13/utah-jazz-draft-prospects-instant-impact/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Prospect No. 3 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div class="embed embed-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/13/utah-jazz-draft-prospects-instant-impact/2/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/LO43ZaMKWWM?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<h2>Utah Jazz draft prospect No. 3: Sharife Cooper</h2>
<p>What could become arguably the biggest steal in the draft, <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/13/utah-jazz-draft-prospects-instant-impact/2/"https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/sharife-cooper-1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Sharife Cooper</a> might be a jackpot pick for the Utah Jazz. Despite a rocky freshman season at Auburn, Cooper is one of the most coveted prospects in this draft class when it comes to sheer potential.</p>
<p>His draft stock isn’t as high as other prospects due to the fact he played only 12 out of the Tigers’ 27 games last season because of eligibility issues with the NCAA. However, Cooper proved in his brief time on the court that he is one of the most promising players in this draft class.</p>
<p>In the action he did see, Cooper averaged 20.2 points and 8.1 assists per game. Now, his efficiency wasn’t top-notch, shooting only 39.1 percent from the field, but that will only improve with experience.</p>
<p>With the possible hole the Jazz will have at the guard position, Cooper could be everything Utah needs. Again, Mike Conley is currently 33 years old and isn’t getting any younger.</p>
<p>Right now, Cooper is typically slotted anywhere from the 25th to the 30th pick. Not only would the 6-foot-1 point guard fit well with the franchise in Utah, but Salt Lake City could also be a perfect destination for him. He would likely be under the tutelage of one of the great point guards in recent history and eventually could have the keys to the point guard spot in a few years.</p>
<p>Cooper is lightning quick, has extraordinary vision, and is a pure point guard who could complement Donovan Mitchell extremely well. In any other NBA Draft, he might be a top 10 pick, which is even more of an incentive for the Utah Jazz to do what they can to snag him.</p>
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<p>With Sharife Cooper leading the way with the second unit, Utah’s bench could become even more dangerous.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">