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Tonight in New York, former Ute Jakob Poeltl will be a first-round NBA Draft pick.

Question is: Where will he go?

The hours before the NBA Draft are some of the most dizzying times to follow moves and projections, as teams (like the Jazz) execute trades, put out rumors or simply hold their best poker faces. There's no shortage of mock drafts that have predictions — which are sometimes just guesses.

This much is for sure: Poeltl stands to become the first Austrian ever drafted into the NBA. If he's picked in the lottery, he'll be the first Utah player to land there since Andrew Bogut was picked first overall. He'll also likely be the program's second pick in the first round in two years.

He is in New York with coach Larry Krystkowiak.http://bit.ly/28NlVop";> The Tribune's Aaron Falk caught up with them yesterday. He also didhttps://amp.twimg.com/v/ef4dc888-39a6-41da-aa20-161bd311f2b8";> an extremely questionable reenactment of Braveheart for Bleacher Report.

Poeltl was an All-American at Utah last year, and also received multiple awards for top big man in college basketball. His mere presence has lit some debates about what role big men now play in an increasingly small ball-focused NBA, but http://www.campusrush.com/2016-nba-draft-scouting-reports-ben-simmons-brandon-ingram-1872857167.html";>Sport Illustrated's Seth Davis spoke to anonymous NBA scouts who had plenty of good things to say about him:

Classic low block center. The league has gone away form that, which is to his advantage. How athletic is he in a quick-twitch league? He's going to be really good. The improvements he made in rebounding and free throw shooting were impressive. He's just scratching the surface. If you watch him guard pick and roll, he can switch against guards. He's grown on me. People always forget you have to wait on bigs. I'm a little more high on him than most people. He doesn't shy away from contact and he runs the floor very well.

The latest mock drafts seem to indicate that Poeltl could join a former teammate …

• ESPN has http://espn.go.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/16436916/chad-ford-nba-mock-draft-10-picks-boston-celtics-los-angeles-lakers-minnesota-timberwolves-more";>Poeltl at No. 9 going to the Toronto Raptors with last year's first-round pick Delon Wright. Chad Ford writes: "The three players rumored to be targets for the Raptors are Poeltl, Domantas Sabonis and Skal Labissiere. Sabonis hits the sweet spot for the Raptors. He's strong, tough, ready to play now and very skilled. He isn't a great athlete, but that's the only real issue holding him back. If the team loses Bismack Biyombo to free agency this summer, they'll need a back-up for Jonas Valanciunas, and Poeltl would be really good value at No. 9."

• NBA.com picks the Raptors to pick http://www.nba.com/2016/news/features/scott_howard_cooper/06/23/2016-nba-mock-draft-4-0/index.html?ls=iref:nba:draft:headlinest3a">Poeltl at (you guessed it) No. 9. Scott Howard-Cooper writes: "Playing for former NBA big man Larry Krystkowiak at Utah, Poeltl has become what one executive described as a poor man's Pau Gasol, with passing skills, the ability to play inside and a good feel for the game despite a relative lack of experience. He has been working to become a better scorer, but is the kind of worker who will put in the time to get better."

• Sports Illustrated also has http://www.si.com/nba/2016/06/23/nba-mock-draft-trades-buzz-ben-simmons-dragan-bender-brandon-ingram";>Poeltl going to the Raptors at No. 9. Andrew Sharp writes: "After two years in the draft the spotlight has hurt some his of buzz, but he should be a pleasant surprise for whichever team lands him. His size alone will make him a factor against most modern big men, and he's skilled around the rim. He's smart and he's mobile, and if his shot blocking isn't elite, his team defense should be excellent."

• Draft Express ALSO has http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2016/";>Poeltl being picked by Toronto at No. 9. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jakob-Poeltl-63039/";>In his scouting report, Matt Kamalsky writes: "A likely top-10 pick, Poeltl is a player a number of college programs elected to pass on just a few years ago. His improbable, rapid ascension through the NCAA ranks has been fascinating to watch, as few prospects in recent memory, particularly at the college level, have followed such an unusual path to the NBA. It is truly rare, at this point in history, for a player of any background to appear on the NBA radar as unexpectedly as Poeltl did."

• For the sake of variety, CBS Sports has http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-2016-lsus-ben-simmons-to-the-sixers-at-no-1-looks-to-be-done/";>Poeltl going at No. 11 to the Orlando Magic. Gary Parrish writes: "There are reports that Orlando would prefer to use this pick on a big, and Poeltl could be the most accomplished big available. He's a big who plays big — proof being that 94 percent of his buckets this past season came around the rim. The 7-foot-1 center would help Orlando shore up an interior defense by adding a rim protector who is a better-than-most-realize athlete."

• From Bill Simmon's new site The Ringer,https://theringer.com/ringer-2016-nba-mock-draft-8a439a6584f#.bxeu9bfev";> the Orlando Magic pick up Poeltl in this projection. Kevin Clark writes: "They've got a decent core of talent, but the strategy left them with massive holes like interior defense, one that will almost certainly be addressed with this pick. Poeltl would be able to carve out a sizable role on a team that needs someone to bail out Nikola Vucevic, a good all-around big who struggles to protect the rim. He would also be able to contribute now, something that can't be said for some of the raw centers who would be available at this pick (sorry, Skal!)."

• SB Nation ALSO projectshttp://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/6/22/12001638/nba-mock-draft-2016-ben-simmons-brandon-ingram-lakers-76ers-celtics";> Poeltl at No. 11 to the Magic. Kevin O'Conner writes: "The Magic need a rim protector, and while Poeltl might not offer much upside, he's ready to play and can contribute right away."

While the Raptors and the Magic are only two picks apart, you can't get much more different from Drake's hometown to the Magic Kingdom.

What happens to Jakob Poeltl in the draft? Find out tonight on ESPN starting at 5 p.m.

kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon