SALT LAKE CITY (July 11, 2014) – The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed 2014 first-round draft picks guard Danté Exum (fifth overall) and forward Rodney Hood (23rd overall). Per team policy, terms of the deals were not released. Both players are expected to be available for the Jazz’s entry in NBA Summer League 2014, which begins play in Las Vegas on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. MT vs. Philadelphia (TV: KJZZ 14, Radio: 1280 AM/97.5 FM).
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Exum (6-6, 188, Australian Institute of Sport) averaged 18.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists with the Australian National Team at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship in Prague. The 18-year-old led his team to the semifinals and was named to the 2013 U19 World Championship All-Tournament team. In 2013, Exum guided his high school, Lake Ginninderra College, to the Australian School Championship. In addition, he participated in the 2013 Nike Hoop Summit for the World Select Team.
Exum becomes the third international player on the current Jazz roster, joining centers Rudy Gobert and Enes Kanter, and is the sixth active Australian born player in the NBA.
Hood (6-8, 215, Duke) spent two seasons at Duke after starting his collegiate career at Mississippi State. A 2014 All-ACC Second Team selection, the Meridian, Miss., native averaged 16.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting .464 percent from the field and .420 (72-169) from three-point range in 35 games as a redshirt sophomore. He also earned a spot on the conference’s All-Academic Team.
Duke’s team captain in 2013-14, Hood redshirted the 2012-13 season after transferring from Mississippi State. While at Mississippi State, he was selected to the 2012 All-SEC Freshman Team.
The 21-year-old Hood became the first former Duke player ever to be drafted by the Jazz.