By Wendell Maxey, For the Deseret News

BAMBERG, Germany — Enes Kanter was only two years old in 1994 when Nihat Izic was appointed by the Turkish Commission for Youth Basketball to lead a new program for the development of young basketball players in Kanter’s native Turkey.

The goal? To nurture and grow the top players in the country who would one day be able to compete for the Senior National Team and secure basketball supremacy in European basketball.

Seventeen years later, Izic is an assistant coach on the National Team and Utah Jazz rookie Enes Kanter remains one of his prized prodigies.

“I’ve known him since he was like this,” said Izic, bringing his right hand up to his waist.

“Enes was always a big kid and pushed the other kids around. He’s always had the competitive mentality. That is inside of him. And if they are patient in Utah, they will see he can be a very important player.”?

Knowing the current unsettled state surrounding the NBA’s lockout and collective bargaining agreement, patience most certainly is a virtue for Jazz fans — and Kanter too.

Good thing he has plenty of practice.

While it feels like yesterday since Utah selected the 19-year-old 6-foot-11, 260-pound center with the third overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, it’s been two years since Kanter has competed in any meaningful basketball games.

“It’s easy for me to say that I am the unluckiest guy ever. I couldn’t play in college, and right now there is the lockout. The only thing I can do is just wait,” said Kanter, reflecting on his failed college basketball career with the University of Kentucky and head coach John Calipari.

In January, the NCAA denied Kentucky’s appeal and ruled Kanter permanently ineligible as a collegiate athlete because he received $30,000 from Fenerbahce Ulker, with whom he played professionally in the Euro League before attending Stoneridge Preparatory School in Simi Valley, California.

No one ever imaged playing nine games during that 2008-09 season would cost Kanter his college career and come to haunt him the past 24 months.

“I haven’t played in almost two years and it’s hard within that time to go from not playing to being ready for games,”? Kanter added.

Despite tedious workouts before and after the draft with famed basketball trainer Tim Grover with Attack Athletics in Chicago, there’s no substitute for in-game experience.

It affects players both physically and mentally.

“Those two years of not playing hurt him a little bit and he’s a little lost in space,”? explained Izic, as Turkey prepares for the 2011 European Basketball Championships.

EuroBasket, as it’s commonly known, will be held in Lithuania from August 31st through September 18th.

Updated Aug 19, 2011 12:12 AM ET

RUSTON, La.

Scotty Robertson, the first coach of the now Utah-based Jazz NBA franchise, died Thursday in Louisiana at age 81, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported.

Robertson became the first coach of the New Orleans Jazz in 1974, before being fired 15 games later with a 1-14 win-loss record. The team later moved to Salt Lake City, where it is still based.

Robertson later coached the Chicago Bulls in 1978-79, before moving on to coach the Detroit Pistons between 1980 and 1983.

He also served as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns, helping the latter reach the 1992-93 NBA Finals against Chicago.

Robertson’s legacy, however, may be defined by the success he enjoyed as head coach of Lousiana Tech between 1964 and 1974, when he racked up a 161-86 win-loss record, the Times-Picayune reported.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty Lou Lancaster Robertson, three daughters and 10 grandchildren.

Read more.

RUSTON, La. — Scotty Robertson, a former Louisiana Tech coach and the first coach of the NBA’s New Orleans Jazz, has died.

Louisiana Tech athletic director Bruce Van De Velde, who confirmed Robertson’s death on Thursday, says the longtime college and pro coach will be remembered as “one of the all-time greats at Louisiana Tech.”

Robertson, who had battled cancer in addition to a stroke last year, was 81.

During his years in the NBA, Robertson also served as head coach with the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons.

He coached 10 seasons at Louisiana Tech, compiling a mark of 165-86, and was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. Later in his career, he was an assistant with Phoenix and a scout with Miami.

With the latest news of an entrenched stalemate in NBA
contract negotiations, the reality is starting to set in
that we may not be able to count on the Utah Jazz to help
us through Utah’s long winter evenings.

The state of negotiations — or lack thereof — on
the league’s collective bargaining agreement is
frustrating, aggravating and galling to millions of
basketball fans who are helplessly voiceless in the
whole process.

It’s not just the lack of sympathy for
millionaire players and billionaire owners, but the fact
that there is no place at the table for fans to make their
voices heard in a meaningful way. Certainly, fans have no
legal standing to participate in negotiations, but since
the league’s fan base is the economic engine that keeps
the NBA moving, isn’t it strange that in all of the
discussions over the negotiations, fan sentiment is
rarely, if ever, mentioned?

It’s not that fans aren’t trying to be heard. A
non-profit group that calls itself the Sports Fans
Coalition has formally condemned the lockout and
explored whether the Federal Communications Commission has
some standing to step in and force a resolution.

“It’s not just the lack of sympathy for millionaire players and billionaire owners, but the fact that there is no place at the table for fans to make their voices heard in a meaningful way.”

In Cleveland, a frustrated Browns
fan sued the NFL when it’s
now-ended lockout was announced, claiming it violated the
contractual terms of his season ticket package. There was
probably little chance the fan would prevail in court, but
there was no doubting the sincerity of his expression, on
behalf of all fans, who collectively see themselves as a
legitimate third party.

Of course, in the bigger picture, fans do have a
significant say. They can simply not show up when the
league finally resumes play. To some extent, that happened
after the NBA lockout in 1998 that reduced the season to
50 games. Before that lockout, the league had reached a
peak of success. Television ratings in the NBA finals —
between the Jazz and Chicago Bulls — were the highest
ever. The following season, they dropped by a significant
percentage. Ticket sales lagged for several seasons, as
well.

Coincidentally, this latest lockout comes just as
the league has reached another pinnacle of popularity, and
there is talk in the sports
media
of that
momentum being in jeopardy.

NBA teams are fond of hosting “fan appreciation”
events, and players are always thanking fans for their
support. But fans need to see more of a full-court press
on getting the lockout resolved before they’re likely to
find that sentiment sincere.

Brady Morningstar needed a few seconds to catch his breath Tuesday after a rigorous workout with the NBA’s Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

“I’m a little winded because we’re up here in the altitude. I think it does something to you, but it was fun,” said Morningstar. The 6-foot-4 former Kansas University and Free State High guard ran through drills with BYU’s Jackson Emery, Westminster’s Michael Stockton and Virginia’s Mustapha Farrakhan.

“They teach you a lot, have you go hard and see what you can do,” Morningstar added in an interview with the Jazz public relations staff.

Morningstar, who is represented by Tommy Thomas of McClaren Sports, next has a workout with San Antonio’s Spurs on June 7. Morningstar has said he likely will play in Europe next year if he doesn’t land a spot in the NBA.

Markieff also in Utah: Former KU forward Markieff Morris worked out for the Jazz on Sunday. He was asked by reporters what NBA player he resembles.

“Carlos Boozer was here, so that’s why I said that,” he said of comparing himself to Boozer, the former Jazz standout now with the Chicago Bulls. “Rasheed Wallace maybe. I can score better than people think I can. I am a great passer. I have a high basketball IQ. I am competitive,” he added, asked what he brings to an NBA franchise.

Marcus Morris in Indiana: Former KU forward Marcus Morris worked out for the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday with BYU’s Jimmer Fredette, Tennessee’s Tobias Harris, Florida’s Vernon Macklin, Duke’s Nolan Smith and Jeremy Tyler, who played last season in Tokyo. Marcus will work out for Milwaukee’s Bucks today.

“They’ve got a lot of shooters, a lot of athletic guys,” Morris said of the Pacers. “Danny Granger is a shooter. Of course, they have Kansas native Brandon Rush. I know a few guys on the team.”

Asked by nba.com if he’s spoken to former KU player Rush lately about draft preparations, Morris said: “No. I mean Brandon is kind of a loner a little bit. He doesn’t come back to Kansas that much. He’s a good guy. I’ve talked to Cole a little bit. He told me about the process,” Morris added of former KU center Cole Aldrich of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Dad visiting DeAndre: DeAndre Daniels’ dad, who lives in California, has joined his son at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., Rivals.com reports. This has led to speculation the 6-8 senior may be close to announcing for KU, Texas or Oregon. San Diego State and Oklahoma State have also been mentioned. One recruiting Website insists he’ll announce at the Pangos camp this weekend in Los Angeles.

Copyright 2011 The

Lawrence Journal-World.

All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
We strive to uphold our values for every story published.

By Reporter, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz held two pre-draft workouts at their training facility in the past three days, but they won’t have any tryout sessions in the Beehive State for another week or so.

Trips to Chicago and Europe are next on the itinerary.

And those are business trips, not vacations.

Jazz brass, including general manager Tyrone Corbin and general manager Kevin O’Connor, will get a chance to work out and interview Turkish center Enes Kanter in the Windy City on Thursday and Friday.

O’Connor and Walt Perrin, the Jazz’s vice president of player personnel, will then pack their bags for an overseas swing that will include a stop at the three-day EuroCamp in Treviso, Italy.

Thirty players — early entries and draft eligible international prospects — are expected to attend the only pre-draft camp held outside of the U.S. from June 11-13.

The Jazz will get a chance to evaluate intriguing power forward Bismack Biyombo of the Republic of Congo. Lithuania’s Donatas Motiejunas, Latvia’s Davis Bertans and Brazil’s Lucas Nogueira will also attend.

It’s uncertain whether international lottery hopefuls Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania) and Jan Vesely (Czech Republic) will be there.

The Jazz, owners of the third and 12th overall picks for the June 23 draft, expect to bring many lottery prospects through Utah for workouts and/or interviews in upcoming weeks.

Utah continues to attempt to secure an interview with Arizona forward Derrick Williams, whom experts believe will go No. 2. It appears, however, that Duke point guard Kyrie Irving, the draft’s top prospect, will not do anything with teams other than Cleveland, which has the No. 1 overall pick.

The Jazz have scheduled a workout with BYU point guard Jimmer Fredette in Utah, but the team has not released the date.

JEALOUSY JIMMERED: Jackson Emery can shoot the lights out, and his shot was even praised by Jazz coach Corbin after Tuesday’s workout.

But the former BYU shooting guard admitted that there was “some sacrifice” on the part of players not named Jimmer at BYU — and it was for the good of the Cougars.

That sacrifice was not accompanied by ill will, by the way, even if others were constantly playing in Fredette’s large shadow.

“It’s hard to get mad at a guy for shooting shots if he’s shooting 48 percent. It’s hard to get mad at a guy for shooting shots if you’re winning all the time,” said Emery, whose Cougars won 32 games and made the Sweet Sixteen last season. “So we were happy with our roles. The most important thing to us was team success.”

That winning had another benefit. It put BYU players — even the ones not named Jimmer — on the radar.

And he thoroughly enjoyed being a blip on the Jazz’s screen at Tuesday’s workout.

SALT LAKE CITY — Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor was impressed by the level of effort displayed during the team’s first workout of draft prospects.

“We saw a lot of good competition,” O’Connor said. “Guys got after each other pretty good today.”

Whether that means any of the six players in attendance — none of whom are projected to go before the Jazz’s third and 12th picks — will be drafted by Utah on June 23 remains to be seen.

And good luck trying to pry that information out of O’Connor. Though he spoke for 15 minutes, he offered up six “no comment” answers during a media interview Sunday in regards to specifics about the draft.

Do the Jazz think Kyrie Irving or Derrick Williams will be available at No. 3? Is Utah looking for a point guard to groom? Are any of this workout’s attendees — Norris Cole, JaJuan Johnson, Dallas Lauderdale, Shelvin Mack, Markieff Morris or Jeremy Tyler — in the No. 12 range?

“No comment,” O’Connor repeated.

O’Connor only offered up that the Jazz are keeping their options open, that they are doing their homework on all of the prospects and that they won’t pass up Michael Jordan if his name is on the board.

“I think you take the best player available,” O’Connor said. “In this draft, I think you look at it and say, ‘Who’s the best player available?’ and you take him.”

O’Connor did give some insight into what the Jazz are looking for from a player:

“How hard do they play? How successful can they be in our league? And what kind of character do they have?” O’Connor said. “After that, everything else is on the periphery.”

The Jazz will hold their next round of workouts Tuesday, although they haven’t released names of participants.

Utah brass will meet with Turkish standout Enes Kanter, a 6-foot-10 center many mock drafts have going to the Jazz at No. 3. O’Connor brushed off how Kanter canceled an interview opportunity with Utah — and other teams — at the Chicago combine.

“It was a lot about nothing,” O’Connor said of speculation surrounding Kanter’s decision, which some took as him not wanting to play for the Jazz. “He felt uncomfortable because of his background because of his language to sit down for 16 interviews.”

But Kanter did take part in the camp’s drills, which impressed O’Connor.

“He did something to me that obviously no other player has done, and that’s work out there at his draft quote-unquote status,” the Jazz GM said. “We’ll get a chance to sit down with him and have coach with us and get a chance to see him.”

By Chris Tomasson, For the Deseret News

CHICAGO — For four years, Jimmermania has been building up in Utah. Has it possibly not reached a crescendo in the state?

The Jazz have two of the top dozen picks in the June 23 NBA Draft. A source said Thursday that while Jimmer Fredette isn’t being looked at for Utah’s No. 3 selection, he definitely will be given consideration if available at No. 12.

Consider the interest mutual.

“Yeah, that would be something that would be very cool,” the star guard from BYU said Thursday at the NBA Draft Combine about the possibility of being drafted by the Jazz. “Obviously, I have a big following out there. I feel comfortable there. I have a lot of family and friends in the area. It’s a good system, a lot of pick rolls.

“A guy like (former Utah guard) Deron Williams flourished in that type of system. I think I could do the same.”

Fredette, a native of Glens Falls, N.Y., said he would be “very happy” if drafted by the Jazz. He said he would have no problem with being selected No. 12, saying it’s “not how high I get drafted, it’s all about the system and where I can flourish the most.”

Jazz officials, who didn’t want to discuss Fredette in Chicago, were to have an interview with him Thursday night at the combine. Among those who were scheduled to meet with Fredette include general manager Kevin O’Connor, director of player personnel Walt Perrin, head coach Tyrone Corbin and assistants Scott Layden and Jeff Hornacek.

Fredette anticipated sitting down with nine NBA teams on Thursday in Chicago. But most important for Fredette is what he’ll be doing while standing up at the combine, which began Wednesday and runs through Saturday.

There’s not a lot of doubters when it comes to the offensive ability of the 6-foot-2 Fredette, who led the nation in scoring as a senior with a 28.9-point average and was the consensus National Player of the Year. But he’s determined to prove to scouts what he can do on the other side of the ball.

“I thought I impressed them,” Fredette said about Thursday’s drills. “Defensively, I thought I did pretty well on the one-on-one stuff. I think that’s what they want to see mostly out of me. They know I can shoot the ball. But they want to see the defensive end and see the lateral quickness.

“There’s definitely a perception (about him being a weak defender). When you get a stereotype, it’s hard to get rid of that stereotype until you go out and they see it for themselves. … I’m looking forward to showing them I’m a complete player, a guy who can not just score the basketball.”

Scouts will make a determination on whether Fredette can “D” up. But there’s no doubt he can fill it up.