Spencer Nelson has a couple of connections with a member of the Utah Jazz coaching staff that might come in handy.
It's unlikely the personal ties will help Nelson land an NBA gig. He'll have to rely on his own talent, hard work and the right opportunity for that.
But the connections have ensured that the NBA hopeful has a high-ranking fan in the organization and someone to swap stories with during upcoming preseason road trips.
If bored, Nelson and Jazz assistant coach Phil Johnson can always talk about Idaho and Utah State. They were both born in the Gem State — Johnson in Grace, Nelson in Pocatello — and had successful athletic college careers in Logan.
Nelson hopes they soon have one more thing in common. One of six guys at Utah's training camp without a guaranteed contract, the former USU star wants to be placed on the NBA team's payroll for the year. Simply put, that's the former LDS missionary's mission.
"I'm here to make the team," the 29-year-old said.
Playing for the Jazz would be "incredible" and, he added, fulfill a "childhood dream and adult dream."
While he can't guarantee Nelson a spot because of alumni allegiances, Johnson certainly has a rooting interest. Their hearts both bleed Aggie blue, after all.
"I like to see players from there do well and I like to see the school do well," Johnson said.
By all accounts, Nelson is representing Utah State well after having been extended a late camp invitation. And it isn't just the ex-Cache Valley contingency who's noticed.
"He plays hard, plays hard every day," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said of Nelson. "He's a very coachable guy. Pleasant guy to be around. He's a very upbeat person, could be a great teammate, seems to want to do the right thing."
This isn't the first time Nelson has been with the Jazz. After tearing it up collegiately with USU — where he was named the Mid-Major Player of the Year by CollegeInsider.com — Nelson twice participated on the Jazz's summer league team and received a fall camp invitation in 2005.
Nelson has come a long ways since then — in a literal and basketball sense. He spent the past three years playing on a different continent and in a new position. A power forward with USU, the 6-foot-8, 225-pounder transformed himself into a wing player as a pro player in Europe.
With Matt Harpring's status unknown, Nelson's best shot at a possible roster spot in Utah seems to be as a small forward.
"What I think has improved is his ability to move out on the floor and make moves," Johnson said. "By playing the European basketball, he's improved that part of the game. He's always been very intense and very receptive of what you're trying to do."
Johnson is realistic, though.
"I see the improvement as far as playing the perimeter more," he said. "I don't know if he's quite ready yet. We'll see what he does."
Nelson hopes to keep making a favorable impression, in part because he admits to not having a backup plan.
"I think I've shown that I can play with the other guys that are in my position right now trying to earn a spot," Nelson said. "Now I just have to make sure I show that every day and go out and play and earn a spot."
Nelson said he hasn't been clued in as far as what the Jazz might be thinking about his future in Utah. Doesn't matter to him right now, either. Only the current day does.
"I've learned in my professional basketball career: Worry about the things that I can control and the other stuff will take care of itself," he said. "The only thing I can control is that I get here, I'm professional and I give it 100 percent every second of the day. And if I do that, then I'm giving myself a chance."
e-mail: jody@desnews.com