Jazz Exercises Team Option on Fesenko for 2009-10

SALT LAKE CITY (June 12, 2009) – Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has exercised its option on center Kyrylo Fesenko for the 2009-10 season.  Per team policy, financial terms were not released.

The 7-1, 22-year old native of the Ukraine has appeared in 30 games over two seasons with the Jazz, holding career averages of 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.60 blocks while shooting .519 in 7.5 minutes per game.  He appeared in 21 games (one start) in 2008-09, averaging 2.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.71 blocks, hitting .583 (21-36) shots from the field in 7.4 minutes per game.  Fesenko’s best game came against Yao Ming at Houston on December 27, 2008, where he posted career highs of 12 points (6-8 FG) and 11 rebounds along with three blocks in 34 minutes. 

Fesenko has also played a total of 51 games (35 starts) while on assignment with the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League over the past two seasons, where he averaged 10.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.82 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game.  He was selected to participate in the 2008 D-League All-Star Game.

Originally selected by Philadelphia in the second round (38th overall selection) of the 2007 NBA Draft, the Jazz acquired Fesenko’s rights in a draft night deal that sent the draft rights to Herbert Hill (55th overall pick) to the 76ers.