When speaking with media last Thursday night following the completion of the first round of the NBA Draft, Utah Jazz GM Justin Zanik was succinct when talking about Utah’s three new players; Taylor Hendricks, Keyonte George, and Brice Sensabaugh.
“All three have good character. … All of these guys have things you can’t teach,” Zanik said. “All three of the guys can shoot. … They have different bodies, but all three have athleticism. We got two guys who were ranked in our top 10, and we were debating which one to take at No. 9. And then, at 28, we got a guy who was in our top 18.”
All three new Jazzmen have more in common than just being high-character individuals — they know one another from their basketball careers. Speaking with local media during introductory press conferences on Monday afternoon, Hendricks, George, and Sensabaugh discussed those previous relationships.
“I actually played with [him] in AAU in my 17s year, played on the same team. … We know each other’s game, and we had a bunch of fun together in EYBL,” Sensabaugh said of Hendricks.
“He’s actually in my agency, so I’ve been working out with him for the past month-month and a half, so we’re super close,” Sensabaugh added of George.
It’s hard enough to come into the NBA as a rookie. But when you add in being the lone draft pick for a team, it can get pretty daunting at times. That’s why having two other guys to go through the same process with you — let alone have previous relationships with — can be such an advantage.
“It’s great to go through this transition with two other guys. … I’m blessed to do it with them,” George said. “A lot of guys get to do it by themselves, I’ve got people to go through it with. … I’ve got people by my side that are going through the same thing.”
While they’ll most undoubtedly be leaning on one another throughout their rookie seasons, it’s not as if it’ll be the first time this has happened for them.
Like Sensabuagh said, he and George share the same agency. So throughout this entire predraft process, they not only worked out together but also confided in one another about their respective expectations and how to handle it all.
“I’ve been with him all day today, so we’ve just talked about [joining the Jazz],” Sensabaugh said of George. “I think it’s definitely a positive that I can go through this with a couple of guys that I know.”
While George also spoke about how their previous ties have made this process easier and more enjoyable, he wasn’t afraid to talk about Brice’s personality — or their battles on the court.
“Humble guy, goofy, he’s just everything. … Carries himself the right way. Family guy, all the right characteristics that you want,” George said of Sensabaugh. “We’ve been at it a couple of times between the lines. … But he’s not going to tell you all that.”
Hendricks’s relationship with Sensabaugh runs deeper than sharing the same agency. Not only have they been on the same team, but they’ve also been on opposite ends of the court, with a state title at stake.
As seniors in high school, Hendricks ended Sensabaugh’s career when his Calvary Christian squad held off Sensabaugh’s Lake Highland Prep fourth-quarter comeback to win 62-60 and earn a spot in the Florida 4A State title game.
But that didn’t stop Hendricks from wanting to team up with Sensabaugh again, having already played together in the EYBL.
“Before the Jazz had the pick, I thought, ‘Man, Brice hasn’t come off the board yet, I might be able to play with him,'” Hendricks said with a smile. “Then they picked him, and I was ecstatic just to team up with him again. … The type of guy he is, and the player he is, I was pretty happy.”
While Sensabaugh is excited to wear the same uniform as Hendricks again, it’s also been a joy to watch his former teammate thrive with the spotlight on him.
“On a lot of teams he’s been on, he’s kind of been the second or third option,” Sensabaugh said of Hendricks. “He’s always been good. … But I knew going to a school like UCF where he could be the guy, I knew he’d kind of take off from there.”
Despite taking different paths to the NBA, they all arrived in Salt Lake City with the same goals in mind.
“I feel like I have a great opportunity, just things I bring to the team and my effort on the court. … I’m just trying to, gonna try to earn every single minute,” Hendricks said.
“That’s my mindset coming in, not trying to do too much, just making sure I’m playing winning basketball,” George added.
“I’m just kind of taking it day by day right now, not kind of looking too far into the future, but I’m ready for anything,” Sensabaugh finished.
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