As an aspiring hooper growing up in Holladay, Nick Paulos was a "huge Jazz fan." So with Jerry Sloan watching from the stands on Wednesday morning, Paulos felt more than a few nerves as he worked out for his local team. "It was kind of a surreal moment to see Utah Jazz across my chest," said Paulos, a former Olympus High School standout who just finished his collegiate career at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. An All-State selection in high school, Paulos' basketball career took him to a New Hampshire prep school and ultimately onto UNC Greensboro, where he averaged 10.6 points per game last season as a senior. Now, the 6-foot-7 forward is plotting his path to the pros. "I have to have the utmost belief and confidence in myself that I can play at any level," he said. "But if the NBA thing doesn't work out for me, there's some interest from teams in Europe and possibly the D-League. I'm keeping all my options open, just waiting to see how this whole process plays out." The local kid is most certainly an NBA long shot. "He competed, played hard," Jazz vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin said of Paulos' workout. "I think he struggled a little bit on his NBA 3-point shoot. He's not used to that." Paulos, who made 91 three-point shots last year in college, believes he has what it takes to make his living in basketball. "I think I can positively impact any team with my ability to defend and rebound and also space the floor and knock down shots," he said. On Wednesday, Paulos found himself matched up with five other prospects, including projected first-round pick R.J. Hunter and Arizona point guard T.J. McConnell. "Does he belong? That's still to be seen," Perrin said. "Is he, for us, a draftable player? Probably not. But that's not to say he can't play somewhere." Odds & Ends • Overall, Perrin said Wednesday's group (Hunter, McConnell, Paulos, Colorado guard Askia Booker, Arizona State guard Shaquielle McKissic and Gonzaga guard Gary Bell Jr.) was one of the best shooting groups to come in for a workout in a couple years. • McConnell, known for his tenacity and ability to run a team in college, surprised Perrin and the Jazz with how well he shot. For the 6-2 point guard, proving he can be a knock-down shooter is a top priority as he tries to secure a spot in the second round of the draft. • Hunter was the highest-rated player to workout in Salt Lake so far this summer. — Aaron Falk
