Jazz F Brice Sensabaugh Sleeper Pick to Crack Rotation

The 2023 Utah Jazz first-round picks Keyonte George and Taylor Hendricks may have garnered most of the attention after being drafted this year by the Utah Jazz, but let's not forget about the No. 28 overall pick, Brice Sensabaugh. The 6-foot-6 wing out of Ohio State will be looking to crack Utah’s rotation in his first year as a pro with a team that’s deep up and down its roster.

Sensabaugh owns a skill set that is in high demand in today’s NBA. Being able to space the floor as a three-point shooter while also creating his own offense with an NBA-ready mid-range game bodes well for Utah in their half-court sets. Whether that translates to rotational minutes out of the gates could hinge on how he holds up defensively.

Sensabaugh's defensive prowess will be tested early and often when Jazz training camp begins in five weeks. Guarding NBA talent will be an enormous jump from the competition he was accustomed to last year in the Big Ten.

That said, starting the year in the G-League will also be in play, considering the uncertainty of how minutes will be distributed to start the season. Either way, Utah drafted a player they weren’t expecting to be available late in the first round. Jazz GM Justin Zanik elaborated following the 2023 draft.

“At [pick No.] 28, we got a player that we had in our top 18," Jazz GM Justin Zanik said. "That was really good. He fell to us, and so [we're] excited to have a guy that ... makes and takes NBA pro shots."

Indeed, if not for being bit by the injury bug last year, Sensabaugh could have been a top-15 selection. Sensabaugh suffered a knee injury late in the season that resulted in missing the last two games of the season at Ohio State. 

Surgery was required to address the injury, which prevented him from participating in this year’s Summer League. However, Sensabaugh injury issues appear to be trending in the right direction, which should result in an opportunity to make his mark. KSL Sports Ben Anderson gave Jazz fans an update on his progress last month.

“Brice Sensabaugh (left knee surgery recovery) continues to make progress following his surgery last March,” Anderson tweeted.”

Even if Sensabaugh enters training camp 100%, he may need to be patient for consistent playing time out of the gates. His situation feels similar to shooting guard Ochai Agbaji’s first year with the Jazz. Playing time was sporadic for the 2022 lottery pick, and not until the Mike Conley trade did Abaji cement himself firmly in the rotation. Expecting a trade to happen at some point this season to clear a path for the rookies to play more is likely. 

Jazz fans will get answers soon, with the season opener slated for October 25.