Center Jakob Poeltl Drafted By the Toronto Raptors No. 9 Overall

Former Utah center Jakob Poeltl did not have to wait too long tonight during the NBA Draft to hear his named called when he was drafted by the Toronto Raptors No. 9 overall. Poeltl, who was an All-American, and the winner of the 2016 Pete Newell Big Man Award, the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, and the Pac-12 Player of the Year at Utah, announced he would forgo his final two years of eligibility at Utah and head to the NBA. Poeltl hails from Vienna, Austria, and after being drafted, he is the first Austrian player to make the NBA. Poeltl is seen by many NBA scouts as one of the most NBA-ready centers in this draft. He will provide the Raptors with a big man who can contribute on both ends of the court, protecting the rim on defense and scoring in the low-post on offense. Poeltl will see one friendly face in Toronto where he will reunited with former Utah teammate guard Delon Wright, who was drafted by the Raptors last year in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. Poeltl is the first Utah player drafted in the lottery since fellow international big man Andrew Bogut was selected No. 1 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft.