Rose on Jimmer: 'I think he'll thrive wherever he goes'

Sitting down with me on NBA Draft day, BYU head coach Dave Rose said Jimmer Fredette "is the best college scorer that I've ever been around," and that "for what Jimmer does, and the skill set that he has...he can play at any level in any league."

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"The NBA game is a lot different than the college game," said Rose, "(but) every coach needs a guy who can make baskets, and Jimmer can make baskets--from the perimeter, at the rim, at the free throw line, on balance, off balance. You just need guys who can make baskets."

Rose noted that Fredette is kind of a self-made man and a pro basketball novelty in that he ended up as a consensus national player of the having entered college without the fanfare reserved for blue-chippers.

"When you talk about the first 20 players in the NBA Draft, you;'re usually talking about guys that are in the top 50, maybe top 100 as far as coming out of high school. Jimmer wasn't in that spot, but we really felt he had the potential to be a professional player, because scoring was so easy for him."

"Jimmer deserves all the credit; he came in as a freshman and didn't start one game, and now he's probably going to end up being a top 15, 20 pick in the draft--that's pretty rare. It just goes to his work ethic, his patience and his desire to want to be a player."

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I asked Rose what his new bosses might learn about Fredette that don't already know. "They'll be surprised he fits on their team--in the locker room, traveling," said Rose. "The NBA...you've got your team and all of these 'individual corporations,' and you're trying to make them play together."

"Jimmer will get along with everyone and right now, they're trying to figure out how we're going to bring this kid in...six national Player of the Year awards, how he's going to fit...all the hype and he's going to bring his own brand to the NBA, and these guys are all going to be looking around going 'who is this kid?', and two or three weeks later every one of them is going to like him."

"He's a great team guy, players love to play with him, he loves to win...and I think that will surprise a lot of owners."

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As to whether he has a feel for Fredette's draft night destination, Rose says "I don't. If I was sitting in some of these (GM's) positions, and I knew what I needed... that would kind of a help you a little bit."

"It isn't going to the best player that's picked first, it's going to be the need of that organization and that team."

"I just hope it's a short night for us for us, and that Jimmer gets picked in a spot he's really comfortable with, a team that really wants him, because he's going to do well."

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The Utah Jazz are a popular if not consensus pick to nab Fredette with the 12th selection in the first round. Were that to happen, I wondered how many Jazz games Rose might be attending on a regular basis. "I think we'd all see lot more Utah Jazz games," said Rose. "I think most (in-state) basketball fans would like to see Jimmer play in Utah."

Asked if he thought Jimmer would thrive with the Jazz, Rose said "I think he'll thrive wherever he goes; I really believe that. He has enough diversity in his game to be able to adjust to how a coach wants to use him for the first couple years of his career, and then give him a chance to develop into the player that he's actually going to be in the league."

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I told Rose that the way I see it, most BYU fans will see Jimmer's pro career as an extension of his time as a Cougar, and Rose said "I think it will be really similar to all of the 49er fans...BYU fans who became 49er fans. Whatever team picks Jimmer, their fan base will immediately increase by quite a few."

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Rose has been invited by the Fredette family to join Jimmer in the green room at the Prudential Center tonight. "This is a first experience for me, and I'm actually really excited."

"I've watched or listened to this draft since I was just a kid, and it will be interesting to see all the dynamics that go on behind the scene. But like I said, the most important thing is to hope it's a short night."

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