2023 NBA draft: 5 Utah Jazz 28th pick possibilities

Editor’s note: First in a three-part series examining what players the Utah Jazz might select in the 2023 NBA Draft.

June 22 is going to be a busy night for the Utah Jazz. After going through the 2022 NBA Draft without a single pick, the team will enter the 2023 draft with three first-round selections — No. 9, No. 16 and No. 28.

Today we’re going to look at some players who could make a difference for the Jazz with the 28th pick. These decisions are based on who might still be on the board at the end of the first round, who would fit into the Jazz’s roster, who the Jazz have shown interest in and who I personally think would be a good addition to the team.

Once you get past the lottery picks and are nearing the second round of the draft, it’s difficult to find a player that doesn’t come with some question marks or concerns, so these aren’t going to be perfect prospects.

But, it’s also important to remember that stars have been made from late draft picks (Spurs legend Tony Parker and former Jazzman Greg Ostertag were both selected No. 28 overall). There are diamonds in the rough to be found.

Andre Jackson Jr. — UConn — 6-foot-6

On paper, Andre Jackson Jr. does not jump off the page. He was a part of the UConn Huskies team that captured the national title this year, but on that team he put up numbers that don’t stand out — 6.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game while shooting just 28.1 % from 3-point range.

But if you get away from the paper and away from worrying about the numbers, there is a player that is much larger than what the stats suggest.

He is an absolute shark on defense who strikes when he sniffs even the slightest mistake and as far as his offense goes, here’s what Jackson told me in Chicago during the NBA Combine.

“There’s not a lot of players that get invited here (to the combine) with the stats that I have,” Jackson said.

“I might have three points and four rebounds in a game — but everything else I do, that’s where the story is. I do everything and I love it. Thats what teams might not know about me yet is just my love for the dirty work and doing anything that will lead to winning.”

And Jackson is not wrong. He is a do it all, dive on the floor, set a good screen, play defense, clean up messes type of player, and he’s also certain that he has more to give to the game.

His shooting wasn’t great in college, but at the combine he showed some growth and improvement in his form and efficiency, albeit in a small sample size.

He described his focus on improving his shooting, handling and passing, and that showed during his outings in Chicago.

The concern is that Jackson might be exactly what it seems like he is on paper. He might not have more to give, he might be a limited offensive player who only shines in defensive highlight moments.

The hope is that although Jackson might not be a perfect NBA player right away, with the right development…