Jazz draft Duke All-American Kyle Filipowski in second round

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – It was a painful night for Kyle Filipowski, as he had to wait at the Barclay’s Center through the entire first round without hearing his name called.

But the Duke All-American didn’t have to wait long in the second round, as the Utah Jazz drafted Filipowski with the second pick of the second round Thursday afternoon.

“There’s anxiety, of course,” Filipowski said about the long wait. “It’s hard to wait a long time and not hear your name called. But to be honest, I’m just happy. I feel like I ended up in the right spot. That’s what matters most to me. It doesn’t matter about what pick I am, because that’s only one night and then it’s already over. So, I’m just super excited to feel like I got drafted to the right spot, and I’m looking forward to working with this organization.”

Filipowski, a 7-foot, 230-pound center, averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 boards, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 blocks in 36 games (all starts) as a sophomore in 2023-24, earning consensus Second Team All-America and First Team All-ACC selection accolades. The Westtown, New York, native led the Blue Devils in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals, while his nine double-doubles ranked sixth among all ACC players in 2023-24.

As a freshman, Filipowski was named ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP, Second Team All-ACC, Honorable Mention All-America, and Kyle Macy National Freshman of the Year. His 16 double-doubles led all NCAA Division I freshmen in 2022-23.

Filipowski said he likes to model his game after Jazz All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen.

“It’s just how skillful he is, and how mobile and well he moves, that’s something I definitely try to model my game after,” Filipowski said. “Just being able to have this opportunity to play alongside him and learn from him every day, I’m super grateful for that, for this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to making the most of it.”