Utah Jazz: Team taking second look at Hibbert

The Jazz select No. 23 overall in the first round of Thursday's NBA Draft, and when they do it's bound to be a big deal.

At least that's what everyone from fans to some media members and agents seem to think.

Perhaps it is because the Jazz's draft preparation has revolved around — or so it appears — all things big.

Maybe it's because their biggest roster need arguably is an intimidating interior-defense presence who can block and/or alter shots.

Or it could be because of the procession of big men who've paraded to Utah for pre-draft workouts — topped by 7-foot-2 Georgetown center Roy Hibbert, who's in town this morning for a second up-close-and-personal look.

Whatever the case, the Jazz seem OK with the notion.

"You know what? We'll let them have that perception," Jazz player personnel vice president Walt Perrin said Saturday, when the team auditioned six second-round hopefuls, including Utah State shooting guard Jaycee Carroll.

Yet there's no escaping the reality of the Jazz's interest in Hibbert, a senior who wasn't working out against any other bigs the first time he came here.

Also absent when Hibbert was in Salt Lake City back on June 4 to work in front of general manager Kevin O'Connor were two people who'll have influence on the Jazz's selection — Perrin, and head coach Jerry Sloan.

"We wanted to bring him back to work out in from of Coach," Perrin said, "and we also wanted to bring him back to work out against other players."

Hibbert should have his hands full this morning, when two more big men expected to go in the first round — Frenchmen Alexis Ajinca and Serge Ibaka from the Republic of Congo — will be among the six prospects on hand.

Also scheduled: Oklahoma big man Longar Longar and point guards Sean Singletary (Virginia) and Kyle Weaver (Washington State).

With Hibbert's stock supposedly rising — one Internet mock draft, NBADraft.net's, has him going No. 18 to Washington, and another, ESPN.com's, projects he'll go No. 19 to Cleveland — either of the two foreign players could be a possibility at 23.

Ajinca, 20 years old and a 7-foot center, is an athletic and versatile big man who played last season for Hyeres-Toulon in his native France. Ibaka, 6-10 and just 18 years old, blocked 79 shots while playing 26 games last season for a second-level league team in Spain, C.B. L'Hospitalet.

Either could be drafted and — the Jazz's crowded roster in mind — left in Europe to mature.