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SALT LAKE CITY (July 10, 2007) - The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed center Kosta Koufos, the Jazz's first-round selection (23rd pick overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of the offers were not released.
The 7-0, 265-pound center played one season at Ohio State University, averaging 14.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.81 blocks in 37 games (35 starts) while leading the Buckeyes to the 2008 Postseason NIT title. The 19-year-old earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors and was named to the league's All-Freshman Team, while also being selected as the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Postseason NIT. A dual citizen of the United States and Greece, Koufos also averaged 26.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots while helping lead Greece to a silver medal at the 2007 UMCOR U18 European Championships. Koufos led the tournament in scoring and rebounding on his way to earning Most Valuable Player honors.
Koufos was the first Ohio State player ever drafted by the Jazz, and will also be the first former Buckeye to play for the Jazz.
Koufos will join the Jazz summer league team which begins practicing Monday, July 14 and will participate in the 2008 Rocky Mountain Revue, which takes place from July 18-25 at the Lifetime Activities Center on the Salt Lake Community College campus. He will make his professional debut against the San Antonio Spurs summer league entry on July 18 at 7 p.m.
