This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

If the Jazz's decision to draft 19-year-old Turkish center Enes Kanter created a logjam for playing time, somebody should tell coach Tyrone Corbin.

With the No. 3 overall pick, Utah added Kanter to a roster that already includes Al Jefferson, Derrick Favors, Memo Okur and Paul Millsap.

No problem, apparently.

"The best guys will play," Corbin said after a Kanter-Alec Burks introductory news conference Friday.

"… I like the competition because it's good for the team. Guys have to compete every night to get time on the floor. They know there's somebody behind them, pushing them. That's good."

Whether Kanter immediately battles for minutes with the Jazz won't be known for a while — maybe a long while, given the NBA's labor strife.

But general manager Kevin O'Connor likes Kanter's skill set, especially his fondness for physical play.

Referencing Hall of Famer Karl Malone, O'Connor said, "Some guys shy away from contact, some guys accept contact and some guys initiate contact.

"We had a guy once — No. 32 — that was like that. He liked to initiate contact. This kid likes to initiate contact, too."

Corbin's first impression of Kanter also involved some Malone-like qualities.

"He's got a big body and he runs extremely hard," Corbin said. "I like how he chases the basketball, too.

"He doesn't wait for the ball to come to him on rebounds. He goes and gets it. … You really notice his energy and his engine."

Kanter began playing professionally when he was 15, which forced him to grow up in a hurry. In the Turkish League, older opponents didn't bother checking for a birth certificate.

"I start playing against 30- and 35-year-old guys," Kanter said. "That made me tough. … They didn't say, 'Oh, he's a young kid.' No. [But] they played hard against me."

In 2009, Kanter moved to Simi Valley, Calif., to attend Stonebridge Prep and, presumably, get greater exposure to college recruiters.

After also getting offers from Kansas, Syracuse and Washington, Kanter enrolled at Kentucky.

But he never played.

The NCAA declared Kanter permanently ineligible for receiving $33,000 in benefits while playing for the Turkish club Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul.

Still, Kanter stayed at Kentucky, prepared himself for the NBA Draft and, by all accounts, became a cult figure in Lexington. Kentucky fans began wearing "Free Enes" T-shirts. "Free Enes" banners were seen frequently at games in Rupp Arena.

"It was tough because I came here to play college basketball and get education, too," Kanter said. "So when they said I just came here for basketball, it made me sad. It was frustrating."

Despite sitting out, Kanter kept himself in remarkable condition, which is another thing that impressed the Jazz.

Kanter credits Kentucky coach John Calapari for helping him remain a top-three pick in the draft.

"He said, 'You are part of our family and can stay if you want,'" Kanter explained. "He said, 'You can't play but we want to help you. … You have to get ready for the next level.' "

Kanter realized his NBA dream after Cleveland took Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Minnesota grabbed Arizona forward Derrick Williams with the first two picks. His family watched on TV, even though it wasn't exactly prime time in Turkey.

"They wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning to watch," Kanter said. "They were so happy. … They were so happy I was picked and so happy I was picked for the Utah Jazz."

His next goal: contribute to the Jazz's success.

"I believe this is a top team," he said. "I believe this team will be great next year." —

The highest draft picks in Utah Jazz history

1980 No. 2 Darrell Griffith Guard Louisville

1982 No. 3 Dominique Wilkins Forward Georgia

2005 No. 3 Deron Williams Guard Illinois

2011 No. 3 Enes Kanter Forward/Center Turkey

1983 No. 7 Thurl Bailey Forward N.C. State

2010 No. 9 Gordon Hayward Forward Butler

2011 No. 12 Alec Burks Guard Colorado

1982 No. 13 Danny Schayes Center Syracuse

1985 No. 13 Karl Malone Forward La. Tech