Rodney Hood selected by Utah Jazz as 23rd pick in 2014 NBA Draft
By Amie Just
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Coach Mike Krzyzewski had to have been a happy man as the first round of the NBA Draft concluded last night. He had two players drafted in the first round. Jabari Parker was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the second overall pick and Rodney Hood was taken by the Utah Jazz with the No. 23 pick.
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The 11th through the end of the first round draft picks were: Creighton’s Doug McDermott (Chicago Bulls via trade with Denver Nuggets), Croatia’s Dario Saric (Philadelphia 76ers via trade with Orlando Magic), UCLA’s Zach LaVine (Minnesota Timberwolves), N.C. State’s T.J. Warren (Phoenix Suns), Michigan State’s Adreian Payne (Atlanta Hawks), Bosnia’s Jusuf Nurkic (Denver Nuggets via trade with Chicago Bulls), Kentucky’s James Young (Boston Celtics), Syracuse’s Tyler Ennis (Phoenix Suns), Michigan State’s Gary Harris (Denver Nuggets via trade with Chicago Bulls), Brazil’s Bruno Caboclo (Toronto Raptors), Michigan’s Mitch McGary (Oklahoma City Thunder), UCLA’s Jordan Adams (Memphis Grizzlies), Hood, UConn’s Shabazz Napier (Miami Heat via trade with Charlotte Hornets), Switzerland’s Clint Capela (Houston Rockets), North Carolina’s P.J. Hairston (Charlotte Hornets via trade with Miami Heat), Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic (Phoenix Suns), Washington’s C.J.Wilcox (Los Angeles Clippers), Stanford’s Josh Huestis (Oklahoma City Thunder) and UCLA’s Kyle Anderson (San Antonio Spurs).
“It has been my dream to play in the NBA and I am excited to be joining the Utah Jazz,” said Hood. “I’m looking forward to joining the franchise and getting to know my coaches and teammates. My two seasons at Duke have really helped me prepare for this moment and I can’t wait to start the next phase of my basketball career.
Hood was a second-team All-ACC selection and averaged 16.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game over the 2013-2014 season. He was among the leaders in the ACC in several statistic categories. He was eighth in scoring (16.1 points per game), fourth in field goal percentage (.464, 191-of-412), ninth in free throw percentage (.807, 109-of-135), first in three-point percentage (.420, 71-of-169) and eighth in made three pointers (2.03). Hood was the only player in the conference to rank in the top 10 in those areas.
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Before his time at Duke, Hood played for Mississippi State during the 2011-2012 season. In his freshman season he was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. He started in 29 games and averaged 10.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists that year.
Now the Mississippi native is headed to Salt Lake City, Utah to play under Quinn Snyder.
“I’m excited to be a part of the Utah Jazz organization, playing for a Duke guy, it’s going to be great,” said Hood in a post-draft interview. “To play with that team, an up-and-coming team, in the West, hopefully I add to it.”
The Utah Jazz added Australia’s Dante Exum and Hood with their first round picks to the roster. With Trey Burke on their roster as well, the Jazz have some youth to work with.