The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz Draft Bolomboy, Paige and Wallace in 2nd Round

By Ryan Aston

Mar 17, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Weber State Wildcats forward Joel Bolomboy (21) talks with the media during a practice day before the first round of the NCAA men
Mar 17, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Weber State Wildcats forward Joel Bolomboy (21) talks with the media during a practice day before the first round of the NCAA men /
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After trading their first round pick to acquire George Hill, the Utah Jazz picked up Joel Bolomboy, Marcus Paige and Tyrone Wallace in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft.

For Utah Jazz fans, Thursday night’s NBA Draft was a grind of epic proportions. After dealing their selection at No. 12 to pick up veteran help at the point guard position in George Hill, the team was left with three second round picks and an hours-long delay in making their selections. It was…less than scintillating television.

However, as the old saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait.”

Following a trade to exchange their pick at No. 42 with the Brooklyn Nets for the 55th pick and cash, the Jazz finally made their first selection at No. 52 more than four hours after the Philadelphia 76ers had taken Ben Simmons with the first overall pick in the draft.

So who was the player tapped to save Jazz fans from hours of boredom? Arguably the best rebounder in the draft and a local star in Weber State power forward Joel Bolomboy.

At six-foot-nine and 225 pounds, Bolomoby averaged 16 rebounds per 40 minutes with the Wildcats last season and finished fifth in the nation with a total rebound percentage of 21.1. He also averaged 17 points in 31.5 minutes per game, while shooting 57 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range.

The 22-year-old Bolomboy was the Big Sky Player of the Year and an AP Honorable Mention All-American last season, as well as a two-time Big Sky Defensive POY.

In April, our own Jared Woodcox labeled him as a potential dark horse candidate for the Jazz in the second round.

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Ironically, Bolomboy didn’t work out for the Jazz despite playing his college ball in Ogden, Utah.

“As of right now, I won’t be working out for the Jazz,” Bolomboy said at the time. “Being in Utah for the past four years, I would like to go back. But I’m just going to do what my agent tells me to do. If he feels like I need to go out there, I’m more than willing to go out there.”

Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey has shown no fear in drafting players despite agents’ decisions to keep them from working out for the team; Dante Exum also failed to work out in Utah before the Jazz selected him No. 5 overall in 2014. With Bolomboy, the team obviously had years of intel and scouting and liked what they saw.

Aside from his rebounding prowess, Bolomboy was one of the more athletic big men in the draft. He possesses a seven-foot-two wingspan, dunked everything in sight as a collegiate and, despite a slight hitch in his jump shot, exhibits potential beyond the paint as a shooter.

With Jazzman Trevor Booker headed for free agency, Bolomboy may have an outside shot at being the team’s fourth or fifth big man behind Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and Trey Lyles.

With the 55th and 60th picks in the draft, the Jazz selected point guards Marcus Paige from North Carolina and Cal’s Tyrone Wallace respectively.

Paige was a standout during a May workout with the Jazz that included Aussie Thon Maker and Notre Dame point man Demetrius Jackson. The 22-year-old is slight of build for his six-foot-two frame, checking in at 164 pounds, but has a respectable six-foot-six wingspan, a high basketball IQ and a versatile offensive skill set.

In 141 career games at North Carolina, he averaged 13 points and four assists per game, while connecting on just under 38 percent of his three-point shots.

Wallace, meanwhile, averaged 15 points, five rebounds and four assists per game for the Golden Bears last season. What he lacked in outside shooting as a college player (hitting just 29 percent from three in four years at Cal) he made up for with the ability to score in crafty ways by changing pace and direction, as well as finishing through contact.

He also boasts great size (six-foot-six, 200 pounds) and length (six-foot-ten wingspan) for his position.

Wallace and Paige each face a difficult task in making the Jazz roster–counting the two of them, the Jazz now have seven point guards fighting for what will probably be three spots.

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Still, both guards, as well as Bolomboy, have unique aspects as players that could allow them to receive a consideration in the professional ranks.