Jazz's Almond sent back to Flash

The Jazz on Friday reassigned rookie guard Morris Almond to the Utah Flash, their affiliate in the NBA Development League. Almond, the Jazz's first-round selection in last year's NBA draft, seemed anxious to rejoin the Flash, who play host to Sioux Falls tonight in Orem

"I'm excited about tonight — looking forward to it, for a change, to get out there and see what I can do," Almond said.

Almond spent most of December with the Flash, but was recalled by the Jazz on Jan. 8. He was inactive, however, for the Jazz's last three games and hadn't played at all during their last five. He did score his first NBA points during his most recent stint in the NBA.

Almond learned of the assignment during the Jazz's shootaround Friday morning in preparation of their game tonight against Sacramento.

"He (Jazz coach Jerry Sloan) said, 'Good luck and play hard,'" Almond said.

Because he was sent down, Almond will miss the Jazz's weekend road trip to Houston, where he played four years at Rice University prior to being drafted by the Jazz.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com