The Utah Jazz are putting their future in the hands of these 7 players

When the Utah Jazz opened training camp, both front office and coaching staff highlighted one cohort on their roster: the seven players on the squad who are 23 and younger. With third-year player Walker Kessler joining three draft picks each from the 2023 and 2024 NBA Drafts, the Jazz will play a significant amount of youth this season.

Yes, they’re unlikely to make the playoffs as a result.

But these players are the Jazz’s focus for a reason — they’re the ones who could coalesce into at least part of the core of the next contending Jazz team, years down the road may it be. For that reason, it makes sense to preview their seasons individually.

Without further ado, meet the Jazz’s Someday Seven.

Walker Kessler

Third season | Center | Auburn

Season review: After a rookie campaign that saw Kessler make Team USA, his second season was a clear drop-off from that level. Plays he put away in his rookie year, he bobbled and turned over in year two. Rebounding fell off as well, and Kessler lost his starting center job to John Collins.

Defining stat from 2023-24: The Jazz were 3.4 points per 100 possessions worse on offense with Kessler on the floor.

Season preview: Kessler went into the offseason focused on strengthening his core and footwork, becoming more physical around the rim. He’s certainly not dominant yet, but appeared to be more willing to use his body on the glass and in finishing in traffic. Now he’s starting again, will he benefit from playing with better players around him?

Stat to watch in 2024-25: Turnover rate. 12.4% was well below average for big men in 2022-23, 17% was well above-average for bigs in 2023-24. Where will Kessler end this year?

Highlight from preseason: This play shows off Kessler’s improved physicality, both to get the rebound and to finish it despite the defender.

Key quote: “His strength on the floor, you’ll be able to tell very quickly how different it is,” Will Hardy said. “He still may not be where he wants to get to, but I think the work he’s done on his body has given him a different confidence physically.”

Taylor Hendricks

Second season | Forward | UCF

Season review: The No. 9 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft spent half of the season with the G-League Salt Lake City Stars, where he showed his rawness in struggling to stand out in that league. But the Jazz’s second-half youth movement and injuries pushed Hendricks to the main club — where he played a lower-usage, defensively-focused game that probably suits his current skills better.

Defining stat from 2023-24: 12.8% usage and a 5.1 assist percentage meant that Hendricks didn’t touch the ball much in the NBA — and when he did, it was usually a shot or a turnover.

Season preview: Hendricks visibly grew up over the summer — Hardy said he gained 21 pounds since last season. That extra size should allow him to guard other forwards more capably and get more involved in the paint, theoretically. But Hendricks still looks extremely raw at processing the game and doing anything but shooting on the offensive end; he’ll once again be best suited to being a defensive specialist in the early going.

Stat to watch in 2024-25: Defensive rating. Hendricks is a very good isolation defender right now, but hasn’t contributed in other defensive aspects. Will the Jazz be a better defensive team with him on the floor?

Highlight from preseason: A bigger Hendricks sets the solid screen, gets the ball at the nail against a smaller defender, and finishes with ease.

Key quote: “He’s a great defender already in his young career, and improving. So that’s obviously something that he takes to heart, trying to show up defensively first, and he’s gotten better offensively as well, so he can knock down the threes that he gets. So far, he hasn’t been trying to do too much. He attacks the closeouts, he makes the right play, makes his jumpers and he really takes pride on the defensive end.”

Keyonte George

Second season | Guard | Baylor

Season review: Earning the Jazz’s starting point guard job just nine games into his NBA career on his 20th birthday, Keyonte George was seen as the Jazz’s best point guard option. He impressed most when he was the Jazz’s fourth option in the starting lineup, but as injuries and tanking took their toll in March, he struggled under the weight of NBA defenses who scouted him well. George can score in buckets, but the turnovers and missed shots can come just as quickly.

Defining stat from 2023-24: George set the all-time NBA record for 3-pointers made in a game by a rookie with nine against Golden State.

Season preview: Now with his rookie season under his belt, George has established himself as a key piece for the Jazz moving forward — but in what role? He starts alongside fellow combo guard Collin Sexton, and it remains to be seen if he’s more comfortable leading the offense or sniping opportunities created for him. Also to be seen: can he make any impact defensively?

Stat to watch in 2024-25: George’s assist-to-turnover ratio. Can he exceed five or six assists per game, while taking better care of the ball than he did last year?

Highlight from preseason: This play impressed veteran teammate Patty Mills, who said the pass fake was a sign George was understanding how to manipulate defenses more easily in his second year.

Key quote: “He’s carrying a different level of confidence. I think there’s the confidence in his game, there’s the confidence in the credibility that he’s built up with his teammates in the organization, there’s confidence in the relationship with me and the staff,” Hardy said. “You can just tell the way that we communicate with each other feels different than it did last year,

Brice Sensabaugh

Second season | Forward | Ohio State

Season review: Like Hendricks, Sensabaugh spent the first half of the year in the G-League before being called up for the second half. At both levels, the Jazz saw a confident shooter who maybe struggled to consistently create his own shot as well as he did in college. But Sensabaugh’s passing, considered a draft negative, was better than expected throughout the season as well. Defense and Sensabaugh’s agility were major concerns.

Defining stat from 2023-24: The Jazz were outscored by 16.7 points per 100 possessions with Sensabaugh on the court last season, worse than when he was off the court both offensively (-5.6) and defensively (-7.5).

Season preview: Clearly, Sensabaugh took the offseason seriously, slimming way down and working on his conditioning. He’s one of the Jazz’s best practice shooters, and could find a role in the NBA as simply a shot maker. But in order to develop as more than that, he’ll need to cut out some of the bad shots he takes and add more defensive focus.

Stat to watch in 2024-25: Points per shot attempt. Last year, he was at just 1.04 points per shot, 18th percentile among forwards.

Highlight from preseason: Just a tough finish in traffic for the driving Sensabaugh.

Key quote: “The NBA is really unforgiving, and it can tell you pretty quickly when you’re out there what you need to do. The conversations that Brice and I have had over the last year is — I don’t worry about his ability to score. That is who he’s been, that is the natural part of him,” Hardy said. “For him to be putting his focus on the things that have been less natural is a really good step for him.”

Cody Williams

Rookie | Forward | Colorado

Season preview: Yes, he’s one of the NBA’s skinniest rookies. But Williams is one of its smartest, too: thanks perhaps in part to brother Jalen’s NBA experience, Cody reads the game at a high level compared to those in his age group. As a result, he rarely makes a mistake — he’s a natural fit in a lot of lineups and will find plenty of playing time. The question: how aggressive will he be? Will he not just avoid making mistakes, but make oodles of positive plays on the floor too?

Stat to watch in 2024-25: The whole box score. In college, the touted Williams had relatively low rebound, block, steal, and even shots attempted marks for a lottery prospect. Can he make his impact known more regularly?

Highlight from preseason: Williams quickly moves the ball around defenders’ limbs to finish for the quick two.

Key quote: “Cody’s ability to just really take the game for what it is and see what’s in front of him is a really good place to start. Are there going to be moments where we are trying to push Cody and demand kind of going for it a little bit more? Sure,” Hardy said. “But right now, I think his decision making, and when to shoot and when to pass, they’re really good.”

Isaiah Collier

Rookie | Guard | USC

Season preview: Despite a hamstring injury delaying his debut, Collier looks likely to take the Jazz’s backup point guard minutes as soon as he returns to the floor. His bowling ball athleticism got him to the NBA, and should work better than it did at the NCAA level — but the consistency, or lack thereof, of Collier’s shot is a real concern for the young point guard’s career. If he finds it, he’ll be good.

Stat to watch in 2024-25: 3-point percentage. Will teams be forced to respect the shot, or will they simply go under on pick and rolls, daring Collier to shoot?

Highlight from preseason: While Williams finishes with agility, Collier finishes with physicality, just driving through opponents who are even the slightest bit off-balance.

Key quote: “He’s a really good player, really good passer. He’s someone that’s fun to play with, and I feel like he’s been just in the gym working these last couple months since summer league, trying to get better on the things that he feels like he needs to improve on,” Collin Sexton said. “He’s coming each and every day with a great attitude — and I feel like when you come in each and every day with a good attitude, you’re bound to get better.”

Kyle Filipowski

Rookie | Big | Duke

Season preview: Filipowski surprisingly fell to the second round of the NBA Draft, and it looks likely he’ll begin the Jazz’s season at the G-League level, just as Hendricks and Sensabaugh did before him. But Filipowski has more game-ready feel than either of those two players — he’s frequently compared to former Jazzman Kelly Olynyk. There’s a real chance he gets called up quickly for significant NBA time if he excels for the Stars or if the Jazz lose a big man to injury or trade.

Stat to watch in 2024-25: Defensive points per possession in isolation. At the collegiate level, Filipowski proved he could defend in space. But as a rookie big man, he’s going to be challenged frequently by quick guards on switches in both the NBA and G-League. Can he stay in front against the pros, too?

Highlight from preseason: Filipowski certainly feels more confident driving 94 feet than most rookie 7-footers.

Key quote: “I know what you can do. You can put the ball on the floor. You shoot it, post up, be versatile. You can do a lot of things,” Keyonte George said he told Filipowski in summer league. “It’s a lot of things that Kyle can do that can help us play winning basketball, so I’m really excited for that.”