The J-Notes
Fansided

Ranking the Utah Jazz rookies before the 2022-23 season

Jonah Kubicek|
Jacksonville State Gamecocks center Brandon Huffman (50) goes up for a layup over Auburn Tigers forward Walker Kessler (13) during the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., on Friday, March 18, 2022. Auburn Tigers defeated Jacksonville State Gamecocks 80-61.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks center Brandon Huffman (50) goes up for a layup over Auburn Tigers forward Walker Kessler (13) during the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., on Friday, March 18, 2022. Auburn Tigers defeated Jacksonville State Gamecocks 80-61.
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 04: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Kansas Jayhawks cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 72-69 during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 04: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Kansas Jayhawks cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 72-69 during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

#1: Ochai Agbaji

Maybe a little prematurely, I crowned Agbaji as the best part of the Donovan Mitchell trade. He put up 18.8 points, 1.6 assists, and 5.1 rebounds in his senior season at Kansas, with an impressive 40% three-point percentage to go with it.

There’s no other way to say it: he can score. In the Summer League, he didn’t miss a beat, shooting 37% and averaging a cool 15 points. The Jazz may have found the point guard of the future to pair with Collin Sexton, meaning they can add forwards and centers in the upcoming drafts.

Agbaji is ready to play now. There shouldn’t be too much of a learning curve. He can score, pass, and handle the ball. His defense isn’t bad. It’s clear he was a steal with the 14th pick, and he fell into Utah’s lap.

I wouldn’t call him a franchise player, but he will be a solid roleplayer for many, many years. He could get as high as the second option on offense, and if you really need to get your hands on one of the god-awful new jerseys, Ochai’s is the one I would recommend you buy.

With Agbaji, what you see is what you get. And what I see is a dominant scorer who can do a little bit of everything and has a lengthy NBA career ahead of him.