This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Former Utes center Jakob Poeltl is generating significant buzz heading into the NBA draft. After the Austrian big man averaged 17.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game last season for Utah, his name has been consistently mentioned in the lottery of NBA mock drafts. Here's where several mocks have him projected to go:
No. 5 overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves: One mock
Bleacher Report's Tim Daniels
No. 9 overall to the Toronto Raptors: Three mocks
Sports Illustrated: "He won't block many shots, but his skills, size, and athleticism will be good enough to help in a lot of different ways, and he can contribute sooner than any other lottery pick."
CBS Sports' Sam Vecenie: "A wing or a stretch-4 might make sense, but Poeltl is the best player remaining on the board and helps what will be a positional need."
No. 10 overall to the Milwaukee Bucks: Three mocks
CBS Sports' Gary Parrish: "Poeltl is a good fit. He's a big who plays big. And the 7-foot-1 center would help Milwaukee shore up an interior defense by adding a rim protector who is a good-enough athlete."
Forbes: "The Bucks need a competent and impactful big in the worst possible way, and Poeltl is so athletic and adept around the basket that he can step in right away and provide a scoring punch."
USA Today: "Poeltl improved his scoring from 9.1 points per game to 17.2 as a sophomore, becoming one of the more skilled all-around centers in the country. That versatility would be tough to pass up this late in the lottery."
No. 11 overall to the Orlando Magic: One mock
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman: "Poeltl developed into a legitimate go-to option in back-to-the-basket situations. Even his hands looked softer. He's improved his footwork and touch dramatically."
Twitter: @BrennanJSmith