Former Ute Kyle Kuzma selected No. 27 by Lakers


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SALT LAKE CITY — Leaving college early has seemingly paid off for former University of Utah basketball star Kyle Kuzma.

The Flint, Michigan, native was selected No. 27 overall to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA draft Thursday. He was the second player selected by the Lakers, where he joins former Pac-12 opponent Lonzo Ball, who was selected No. 2 overall.

The Lakers acquired the pick via trade with the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week after sending D'Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Nets. The Nets received the No. 27 pick and Brook Lopez in the trade.

Kuzma is the latest athlete from the University of Utah to be drafted in the first round by an NBA team over a three-year period. He follows former Utah athletes Jakob Poeltl (No. 9 - 2016) and Delon Wright (No. 20 - 2015), who were both drafted in the first round by the Toronto Raptors.

After his junior season, Kuzma declared for the NBA draft in an exploratory capacity, leaving the option of returning to the University of Utah open. After receiving positive feedback at the NBA Draft Combine, Kuzma announced his decision to stay in the draft and forego his senior season.

“It was a pleasure to play for you guys,” Kuzma said in a tweet declaring his decision. “I can truly say that I laid it on the line every night just to make you guys proud of our program and this outstanding university. Once a Ute, always a Ute.”

During a workout with the Utah Jazz in May, Kuzma said he surprised people at the combine, leading to his stock improving before the draft. When Kuzma declared for the draft, he was projected as a mid-to-late second-round draft pick. However, as the draft drew near, Kuzma was getting looks as a potential first-round pick.

“I’ve been shooting the ball well,” Kuzma told media following his workout with the Jazz. “I went to the combine and played really well there. I surprised some people. I kind of changed my jump shot up a little bit, made it more fluid and more comfortable. I feel like I’m more comfortable shooting from the NBA three than the college three right now.”

Kuzma played three years at the University of Utah and was the team’s leading scorer his junior season, averaging 16.4 points per game. In his final season at Utah, Kuzma averaged 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 50.4 percent from the field. He also had 15 double-doubles as the team’s leader.

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