Utah Jazz notes: Congolese forward/center has come a long way

Serge Ibaka's parents both were national-team players in his homeland, the Republic of Congo.

According to an NBA media guide, he "has 17 siblings, lived with his grandmother during civil unrest in the Congo in the mid-to-late '90s in a house with no electricity or running water (and) learned the game playing on outdoor courts wearing shoes with cardboard inserts to cover the holes in his shoes."

But none of that stopped the 18-year-old from turning himself into a potential first-round selection in Thursday's NBA Draft, which is why he was in Utah to audition for the Jazz on Sunday along with Georgetown center Roy Hibbert, French center Alexis Ajinca, Oklahoma center Longar Longar and point guards Sean Singletary of Virginia and Kyle Weaver of Washington State.

"I work very hard, and I kept my confidence, even when things were going bad ... and knew that eventually something would happen, and that's why I'm here for the draft," Ibaka said according to Jazz international scout Alberto Dal Cin, who interpreted as the young African switched in mid-interview from speaking Spanish to French.

Ibaka — who knew nothing of the Jazz growing up in Congo — is listed as a 6-foot-10, 220-pound power forward/center, though at first glance he appears to fall a bit shy of that height.

He played for a second-level league team in Spain last season, C.B. L'Hospitalet, and said whether he comes to America right away or continues to play in Europe will be up to whatever NBA team drafts him.

But Ajinca, a legit 7-footer who plays for Hyeres-Toulon of the French pro league, seems anxious to make the move right away.

"I think it's better for me to come here and be in the NBA," he said.

Both are possible picks for Utah at No. 23 overall in this week's draft, but Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said the franchise isn't specifically seeking to draft an international player and stash him for a season or two overseas.

He also suggested young foreign players like Ibaka and the 20-year-old Ajinca are probably not prepared for an immediate jump to the NBA.

"I don't think any of them are ready," he said, "and if they are ready they'd be in the top five of the draft if they're that size."

MILES DECISION: O'Connor said the Jazz won't decide if they'll tender reserve swingman C.J. Miles a qualifying offer and make him a restricted free agent before the NBA's end-of-the-month deadline for doing so.