From Deseret News archives:

Afflalo promises a winning attitude

Published: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 12:35 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Associated Press All-American shooting guard from a fabled UCLA program fresh off back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances. An NBA Western Conference finals team seeking a young shooting guard who can shoot.

Arron Afflalo sees a nifty fit between him and the Jazz.

"If there is one thing I enjoy doing, it's winning," said Afflalo, the Pac-10 Player of the Year after averaging 16.9 points and shooting 46.1 percent from the field during his junior season with the Bruins. "And you can clearly see (the Jazz) are all about winning, all about being a family, all togetherness and playing the game the right way. Those are all the things I value, and I think they'll see those same values in myself."

Afflalo, a possible pick for Utah with its No. 25 overall selection in the first round of the June 28 NBA Draft, auditioned for the Jazz on Monday along with second-round hopefuls Quinton Hosley of Fresno State, Dustin Salisbery of Temple and Hawaii's Matt Lojeski.

The former UCLA star previously worked out for Houston, the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix and Philadelphia, and said he has additional visits "lined up" with San Antonio, Charlotte, Golden State and Seattle.

Monday, though, his heart and head were both in one locale.

Story continues below
"I think I can fit anything," Afflalo said when asked where he thinks he fits best, "but since I'm here in Utah I guess I'll say the Jazz."

TUCKER NO-SHOW: Lojeski was a late replacement for AP All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year Alando Tucker, who according to Jazz player personnel director Walt Perrin canceled his visit because of a strained quadriceps muscle sustained during a workout Saturday with Seattle.

Tucker is also a possible pick at 25, but Perrin said he did not know if the University of Wisconsin senior would reschedule his visit.

FOUR MORE: Four more draft prospects are expected to work out in Utah this morning, including probable first-round picks Morris Almond of Rice and Daequan Cook of Ohio State — both believed to be quite high on the Jazz's radar.

The two shooting guards will be joined by two other off-guards, late first-round hopeful Trey Johnson of Jackson State and Keith Simmons of Holy Cross.

ORLANDO SNUB: Afflalo turned down an invitation to take part in the NBA's annual pre-draft camp at Orlando, and said Monday he's glad he did.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image

Ex-UCLA guard Arron Afflalo works out for Jazz in a pre-draft evaluation on Monday afternoon.

previousnext

Latest comments

Cave to be sealed with body inside

Just because someone died there does NOT make it a sacred place. We do...

Go Cougars.

note to mr jody genessy: next time you print this sort of article about...

I heard Urban Meyer will coach if you wav enough money in front of him.

It's shame that only a few Christian churches(Anglicans, Roman Catholics,...

You say "Maybe they should close Angels Landing trail. Using the same logic...

Is the job to teach or convert? Why would you need to be an active member of...

Letters: No constitutional right

And Which College or University did you attend "Charles"? And what was...

Secret Service admits lapse

The SS admits they messed up. The SS is suposidly non-partisan but if this...

Shameful headline. Looks like we are taking jabs. When is the Deseret News...

Advertisements