Gary Wilkinson is old.

At least that's what his official age tells you.

But in terms of basketball age, the Utah State grad is a young and developing player who hopes to show an NBA team or two he's got what it takes to deserve a roster spot.

Monday morning, the tough redhead from South Jordan was one of six players working out for Utah Jazz coaches in the first of two sessions of NBA Draft hopefuls.

Wilkinson, along with Utah's Shaun Green, who also worked out for the Jazz Monday morning, is just hoping to make an impression and earn an invite to a training camp somewhere.

"I'd like to play in the league," Wilkinson said. "That's where my goal is right now. I'm not thinking about anything else but giving this my best effort."

The same goes for Green. The Olympus High and Utah product was a late invite to the Jazz workouts after Georgia Tech forward Gani Lawal withdrew from the draft and decided to return to school for his junior season.

"I'm just trying to improve my skills so someday I can earn some money playing basketball," Green, a 6-foot-8 shooter, said.

Green , a career 41.4 percent 3-point shooter for the Utes, admits he is a long shot to be drafted. But Monday's workout was a chance to test himself and hopefully earn a roster spot on a summer league team where he can continue to develop and potentially land a pro contract, either overseas or in the NBDL.

"It was fun," Green said, soaked in sweat and wearing a Utah Jazz T-shirt. "I'm taking in the process … and I got some new gear out of it, so I can't complain."

Wilkinson, also a long shot for the draft, was named the WAC player of the year at Utah State and an honorable mention All-American after averaging 17.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and shooting 58 percent from the field. He also is a solid free throw shooter with an 82.6 percent average.

But the 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward didn't play competitive basketball until after he turned a wayward life around and showed up at Salt Lake Community College four years ago asking for a tryout.

Now he's hoping to continue his journey from high school dropout to professional basketball.

"It's definitely a step up in competition," Wilkinson said of the players he's been working out with at two previous tryouts. "But I don't feel out of my league at all. I need to get a little bit stronger and quicker, but I think my hustle and hard work are there."

After the workout, Jazz director of player personnel Walt Perrin said Wilkinson would be invited to join Utah's summer league team in Orlando.

Playing in pain for much of his senior season because of back injuries, Wilkinson took a month or two off after the season ended to rest and rehab. Now he says he feels 100 percent and able to run, bang and play with the best out there.

"It's completely better," he said.

The 26-year-old was named to the Portsmouth Invitational all-tournament team in April after he averaged 16.7 points and 11.7 rebounds in three games, while shooting a tournament best 71.4 percent against dozens of other NBA Draft hopefuls.

But with the draft just more than a week away the former Aggie knows he has something left to prove.

"I think they're looking for younger guys," Wilkinson said. "But I'll work hard. Right now, I think I can play here. I don't want to think about Europe or anything like that right now."

E-mail: jeborn@desnews.com