Breaking down the Utah Jazz's 3 rookies from the 2023 NBA Draft

#0 Taylor Hendricks | Forward

Taylor Hendricks may have been relatively unknown by the casual NBA observers, and it's not my job to judge you for that. Hendricks plays a smooth and sweet style of basketball where his defensive versatility pairs with 3-point shooting. The Jazz picked him up with the 9th pick out of the University of Central Florida due to his fantastic upside as a prospect.

Out of UCF, Hendricks impressed NBA scouts with his ability to fill it up from long range on offense and run back on defense to capably protect the rim. At 6'9", he is athletic and raw but shows all the signs of a player that could become a headache for opposing coaches to try to scheme against. Hendricks' toolbox is vast, and he possesses great utility in his skillset. With long arms and a tall frame, the former UCF Knight is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, being a capable contributor in several areas while only excelling in a handful of skills.

He's still growing and he will take some time to adjust to the pace of the NBA, but if you've watched him take the floor, his potential as a spot-up shooter is apparent. He already has fantastic defensive instincts, though his production is still not completely there. He's a project, but a very low-risk one with a high ceiling. Jazz fans should excitedly watch Hendricks develop.