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Utah Jazz Pre-Draft Workout Update For Thursday, Friday

Ryan Aston|

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) is defended by Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker (15) and forward Frank Kaminsky (44) in the second half of the 2015 NCAA Men

The Utah Jazz resumed their exhaustive search for the next great Jazzman on Thursday and Friday during two workout sessions in advance of this month’s NBA Draft. Headlining the two-day set were a trio of college standouts, Kevon Looney, Bobby Portis and Aaron Harrison.

The Looney-Portis affair Thursday morning was of particular interest for fans and media alike. Both players can be considered options for the team at the No. 12 pick and that day’s group as a whole was the most talented unit to audition for Jazz brass so far.

The duo were joined in their Jazz audition by Notre Dame’s Pat Connaughton, Andre Hollins of Minnesota, Malcolm Miller from Holy Cross and West Georgia’s Deonta Stocks.

According to Jazz VP of player personnel Walt Perrin, Looney and Portis displayed their individual strengths in the workout. From Aaron Falk’s piece for The Salt Lake Tribune–

"“I thought they both competed real well. Kevon has an advantage in a certain aspect on the floor, and Bobby has an advantage in a different area.”"

Looney helped his UCLA Bruins to a surprising run to the Sweet 16 this past season. The six-foot-nine forward averaged 11.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals and nearly one block per game in his lone season for the Bruins. Looney currently check in at No. 20 on the big board at DraftExpress.

The big man could potentially become a floor spacer for coach Quin Snyder’s crew should the team select him. Looney connected on nearly 42-percent of his three-point attempts last year.

2015 SEC Player of the Year and consensus All-American Bobby Portis was a star for the Arkansas Razorbacks in his sophomore season. Portis finished second in the conference in scoring at 17.5 PPG and averaged 1.5 blocks per game in his two season at Arkansas. He also boasts a standing reach of over nine feet.

Portis has a reputation as a hard worker with a high energy level on the court. If he can improve his shooting form, the nineteen-year-old could make for an intriguing NBA player.

One note of interest–Jazz coaches spent extra time with Connaughton, who also impressed during the workout.

Friday’s workout featured Harrison, N.C. State’s Trevor Lacey, Jaleel Roberts of UNC Ashville, Phil Green IV from St. John’s and SMU’s Yanick Moreira. Maryland guard Dez Wells was scheduled to participate, but was scratched due to injury

Harrison, twin brother of fellow Kentucky star Andrew Harrison, is a six-foot-six guard who currently ranks 78th on the DX big board. Still, with an impressive workout, the former Wildcat could improve his stock to the point where a team is willing to take a chance on him in the second round.

The Utah Jazz will pick 42nd and 54th, in addition to their first-round selection at No. 12 in the upcoming 2015 NBA Draft.

Next: Utah Jazz Connections to the NBA Finals

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