Fesenko signs with the Utah Jazz

Kyrylo Fesenko said he didn't sleep all night Tuesday in anticipation of signing his first NBA contract with the Utah Jazz this morning.

But when he actually put pen to paper, "I was very cool," he said. "I don't worry about nothing. Now I'm finally happy."

The 7-foot-1, 20-year-old center has been in Utah since before the Rocky Mountain Revue started in early July, staying here to work out at the Jazz's practice facility, do some running and learn the city while the Jazz and his agent, Jason Levien, negotiated with his Ukrainian team and federation and basketball's international federation (FIBA) to bring the second-round draft pick here.

Fesenko, who flew home to Ukraine to be with family and friends for a few weeks, plans to return to Salt Lake on Sept. 2 to resume getting ready for training camp, which starts on Oct. 1.

The Jazz had to first decide if they wanted to work with him this year or leave him in Ukraine for another year. When they made the decision, obviously helped by Fesenko's promising Revue showing, the Jazz and Levien then negotiated to buy out Fesenko's Ukrainian pro-team contract for $500,000 plus other considerations. That process also involved the NBA.

Since "Fess" signed his contract Wednesday — a multi-year guaranteed deal, said Levien — the Jazz will have the option of keeping Fesenko on their roster or sending him to their NBA Development League team, the Utah Flash, for all or part of the next season or two.

The contract must now be approved by FIBA and the NBA, a process that could take up to a week, said Jazz senior vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor, adding he thinks "everything's OK" in that regard.

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