The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: 2017 NBA draft cheat sheet

By John Keeffer

Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 9, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Derrick White (21) is defended by Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier (35) during the first half during the Pac-12 Conference Tournament at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Derrick White (21) is defended by Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier (35) during the first half during the Pac-12 Conference Tournament at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports /

Derrick White, 6’4″, Colorado, Senior

Derrick White has likely had the longest journey of any other potential first round pick.

Mike Schmitz and Matt Kamalsky of Draft Express broke down that long journey he’s been on:

"Painfully under-recruited out of Legend High School (CO), White benefited from a number of coincidences to even find his way onto a Division II roster, let alone NBA draft boards.  Standing around 6’0 as his prep career came to a close, White had little recruiting interest outside of a small non-scholarship culinary school in Denver, NAIA program Johnson & Wales.  As fate would have it, the coach at Johnson & Wales, Jeff Culver, was hired by Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS), a Division II program with an all-time .271 winning percentage at that point, coming through with a partial offer for White just months before he was set to graduate."

Given the opportunity at UCCS, White became one of the top players in all of Division II basketball. He grew four inches, and during his junior season he averaged 25.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.2 assist, 3.2 steals and 2.1 blocks.

He then transferred to Colorado and averaged 18.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists, solidifying himself as an NBA prospect.

His size makes him a bit of a tweener. He measured at 6’4-1/2″, with a 6’7-1/2″ wingspan at the draft. He would benefit from playing the point guard, where his size would be an advantage, but he can also slide to the wing due to his length.

He is a bit older at 22, but he is mature and can shoot the ball well. He could be the Malcolm Brogdon of this draft, and with the 30th pick, he’s worth a flyer.