The Utah Jazz already have a big, long center in Rudy Gobert, but on Saturday, they’ll bring in an even longer one for a workout in advance of next month’s NBA draft.
Seven-foot-six sophomore Tacko Fall of Central Florida headlines a group of six prospects who will audition for Jazz brass at Zions Bank Basketball Center. It is the first predraft workout Utah is opening to the media, although not all of the players (including Fall) will be made available for questions.
The other five who will work out include Louisville sophomore forward Deng Adel, Connecticut senior big man Amida Brimah, Iowa State senior guard Naz Mitrou-Long, Illinois senior guard Malcolm Hill and Brazilian forward Wesley Alves Da Silva.
Arizona freshman guard Rawle Alkins was originally scheduled to be the sixth participant, but the Jazz announced Friday afternoon that Hill would be replacing him.
An internet sensation during high school, Fall has averaged 9.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in two seasons with the Knights. He, along with the other underclassmen who will be at the workout, have until May 24 to decide if they will hire an agent or return to school.
The other underclassman in the workout, Adel posted numbers of 12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest with the Cardinals this past season.
Brimah was the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and was thought at that point to be a bona fide NBA prospect. He entered the 2016 draft before deciding to return to the Huskies for his senior year, where he averaged 7.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
In his final season with the Cyclones, Mitrou-Long averaged 15.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest.
As a senior with the Fighting Illini, Hill tallied 17.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
Alves Da Silva currently plays for the club Paulistano in Brazil, according to DraftExpress.com.
Fall, Adel and Hill are the only players among the six who are on that site’s list of top 100 prospects. Fall is No. 92, Adel is No. 96 and Hill is No. 99. Alkins is No. 70.
Only Brimah, Mitrou-Long and Hill will be available to the media on Saturday.