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SALT LAKE CITY (November 10, 2007) - Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor announced today that the team has assigned rookie center Kyrylo Fesenko to the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League (D-League).
Fesenko, a 7-1, 288-pound center has been on the on the inactive list for the Jazz's first six games this season. The 20-year-old native of the Ukraine saw action in six preseason games for the Jazz, averaging 4.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.50 blocks in 12.2 minutes per contest.
"At this point, we feel that the best way to further Fesenko's development is to send him to the Flash, where he will be able to gain more experience in an actual game setting," said Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor.
Originally selected by Philadelphia with in the second round (38th overall selection) of the 2007 NBA Draft, the Jazz acquired Fesenko's rights in a draft night deal that sent the draft rights to Herbert Hill (55th overall pick) and trade considerations to the 76ers. He averaged 6.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots in 18.5 minutes a contest last season for the Cherkassy Monkeys of the Ukrainian SuperLeague. Fesenko scored in double figures seven times, posting a season high of 17 points. In six games at the FIBA EuroCup Challenge, Fesenko averaged 7.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots in 18.7 minutes.
Fesenko becomes the second Jazz player ever assigned to the D-League. Guard C.J. Miles was assigned to the D-League each of the previous two seasons by the Jazz, appearing in a combined 19 games for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (2005-06) and Idaho Stampede (2006-07).
The NBA Development League also includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim Arsenal (Calif.), Austin Toros (Texas), Bakersfield Jam (Calif.), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Ind.), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Iowa Energy (Des Moines), Los Angeles D-Fenders, Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Texas), Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.) and Tulsa 66ers (Okla.).
