Utah Jazz: Top big men making rounds before NBA Draft

SALT LAKE CITY — Georgetown big man Greg Monroe, Baylor big Ekpe Udoh and Marshall center Hassan Whiteside — all possible picks for the Jazz at No. 9 overall in Thursday's NBA Draft — each paid a second visit to Sacramento on Saturday.

The Kings, owner of the No. 5 pick, are believed to be seriously considering Monroe if they don't land Kentucky big man DeMarcus Cousins.

Monroe, Udoh and Whiteside (who has a prospect-best 7-foot-7 wingspan) all have worked out once previously in Utah.

Monroe, much-liked by the Jazz, had a solo audition in Utah — the only 2010 prospect to do so.

That's supposedly because his agent wouldn't permit him to work out against anybody except Cousins or projected top-five pick Derrick Favors of Georgia Tech, though Monroe suggested it was the Jazz who preferred he be there alone.

Monroe didn't work against anybody during his first visit with the Kings, either, but he did go against Udoh, Whiteside and three others on Saturday in Sacramento.

Said Monroe to the Sacramento Bee newspaper: "That's probably the most important thing. Seeing me against other players."

Udoh, another possible pick for Sacramento, also had made two visits to Indiana, including one on Friday.

The Pacers pick 10th, leaving Udoh feeling good about the possibility of being a top-10 pick.

"Yes, sir, it's a very positive sign," Udoh, speaking of the second interview in Indy, told the Indianapolis Star. "They're a great team and they're on the rise.

"I think I'm a good fit here (in Indiana)," Udoh added. "They (the Pacers) play off the elbow and that's kind of my game."

Monroe also worked out Friday in Indianapolis with multiple others, including Udoh, the Star reported.

The Jazz wanted to bring in Whiteside for a second visit, but — even though he went to Sacramento a second time — he so far hasn't been willing to come back to Utah.

No serious draft prospect, in fact, has made a second stop in Utah so far.

"We thought about bringing back some guys," Jazz player personnel vice president Walt Perrin said, "but it's kind of late in the process.

"Some of the agents with these potential players wanted to get them with some other teams," Perrin added, "and we felt like we knew them fairly well, so we decided against bringing anybody back."

e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com