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It had been more than two years since Will Clyburn played at altitude in Utah. Then, as a member of Jim Boylen's Utah Utes, it was his friend.
In a Sunday workout with the Jazz, Clyburn was reminded of how tough the thinner air could be on players unaccustomed to it.
"I used to be used to it," he said. "Now I'm not used to it all."
Clyburn, an athletic 6-foot-7 wing, transferred to Iowa State after Boylen was fired in 2011 and in March led the Cyclones to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
"It was a great decision," Clyburn said of his high-profile transfer. "It prepared me for this level. It gave me opportunity to showcase my talents even more, put the ball in my hand, not just a spot-up shooter."
The Detroit native was one of six players to participate in a Father's Day pre-draft workout, consisting of players trying to work their way into the second round. The workout included former Oregon forward E.J. Singler, the younger brother of Detroit's Kyle Singler, a 2011 second-round pick.
Singler said his older brother told him, "Have fun, there's a lot of eyes on you, just work your butt off and come in with a really good attitude and good enthusiasm and things will happen to you."
Others to work out for the Jazz were Robert Covington, a forward from Tennessee State, Virginia Commonwealth guard Troy Daniels, Kansas State guard Rodney McGruder and Memphis guard Adonis Thomas.
Clyburn first caught the eyes of the Jazz while with the Utes, said Walt Perrin, the team's vice president of player personnel.
"When our people here in Salt Lake saw him play," Perrin said, "he was a name we put in the hopper as a possible draftable player in the future."
Clyburn said he has been told he could go anywhere in the second round, although he is not listed in many mock drafts. A conversation he had with Boylen during a workout in Indiana, where the former Ute coach is an assistant, shed some light on why.
"He said I do a lot of things well and one thing I need to do is find something I do great," Clyburn said. "So just continue working and working on my game."
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