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After Uthoff’s recent hot streak with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, a source have told Ridiculous Upside that he has gotten significant NBA interest from multiple teams.
Prior to playing in the D-League, Uthoff was a huge star with the Iowa Hawkeyes. In Uthoff’s final season with Iowa he was averaging 30.8 minutes per game, where he averaged 18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 44.8% from the field and 38.2% from three. Following his final season in Iowa, Uthoff was a consensus All-American as well as a unanimous 1st team All-Big 10.
After receiving those awards, Uthoff declared for the 2016 NBA Draft. Uthoff went undrafted and signed a contract with the Toronto Raptors where he would compete for the 15th roster spot. Uthoff only played in one pre-season game with the Raptors and failed to register a point, and was ultimately cut. Uthoff decided to go down to the D-League and joined the Raptors 905.
From the moment he landed in Mississauga, Uthoff really struggled to get consistent minutes. A lot of that had to do with Jerry Stackhouse’s rotation as he wasn’t given the minutes he needed to produce. To start the season, the 905 were often going with a 12 man rotation (including 2 Raptors assignees) and cutting into Uthoff’s potential minutes. As Uthoff was hit with a DNP-CD four times and played under 8 minutes three times in Stackhouse’s rotation. With the 905, Uthoff played in 24 games starting 2 of those, where he averaged only 20.3 minutes per game. In limited minutes, Uthoff averaged 7.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 43.0% from the field and 47.5% from three.
On January 27, Jarrod Uthoff was traded to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants for Christan Watford and a draft pick. Since the trade Uthoff have been on an absolute tear in Fort Wayne, getting the minutes he deserves. As in 11 games with Fort Wayne where he started 5, he is averaging 31.5 minutes per game. Having Uthoff play more has paid off as he is averaging 17.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 55.6% from the field and 47.1% from three, and dominating his competition.
Since joining the D-League, Uthoff has shown himself to be a versatile offensive weapon. As a 6’9 forward, Uthoff has showcases all the skills of a great pick-and-roll forward from his smooth perimeter stroke to work as an on-ball cutter. Those skills as a perimeter marksman are evident from Uthoff shooting 50% from beyond the arc on 1.8 attempts per game.
Uthoff has put himself into the starting lineup in Fort Wayne, although he may not be there for long. As Ridiculous Upside was told, several NBA squads that have a need at the power forward position have expressed interest in Uthoff. Although he started his D-League on a rough stretch with the Raptors 905, Uthoff seems to have gotten things together in Fort Wayne to the point where we could see him in the NBA in the near future.