Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Jeremy Hazell, the former Seton Hall star, had a two-word thought when the Atlanta Hawks opted to trade Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets.
“Thank God,” the 6-foot-5, 180-pound Hazell told SNY.tv by phone from Atlanta on Friday.
When the Hawks dealt Johnson to Brooklyn, it not only helped persuade Deron Williams to return to the Nets, but it opened up a chance for a guy like Hazell in Atlanta.
“It makes me more hungry because I know that could be my starting job right there,” Hazell said.
“He was a great player, he was scoring 27 points a game. That could be my little 15 points a game, with John Jenkins, the guy that we signed in the draft, so that could open an opportunity for me.”
The Hawks drafted the sharp-shooting Jenkins No. 23 overall out of Vanderbilt in the NBA Draft and he will have a chance to make an impression on the team.
“We’re very happy John was available at number 23, and we were able to get him,” said Hawks head coach Larry Drew. “He can really come off screens, and needs just a little bit of daylight to get his shot off. He has terrific range, and when you play against guys like that who can shoot the ball, it just gives you another weapon.”
Hazell and Jenkins are both expected to play with the Hawks summer league team in Las Vegas, along with former Pitt guard Brad Wanamaker, former Louisville guard Jerry Smith and former Louisville and UTEP forward Derrick Caracter of Scotch Plains-Fanwood, N.J.
“He does indeed have a realistic shot,” said Seth Cohen, the agent for both Hazell and Nets guard MarShon Brooks. “He has three major things going for him. He’s a great shooter/scorer and they just lost Joe Johnson. He’s a minimum salary guy which Atlanta absolutely needs. And they have been high on him since college, and really liked him then.
“Today Jeremy is an upgraded version of what he was coming out of school. He is shooting the ball better and more consistently, his body is stronger. He is more seasoned and experienced, and is more mature than he was coming out of school. I have witnessed it with my own eyes. I am very proud of his growth both off and on the court and as I have firmly believed since Day 1, there is a place for Jeremy in the league”
Hazell played briefly two seasons ago with Lucentum Alicante in Spain and has also appeared in camp with the Phoenix Suns. An All-Big East Third Team selection, Hazell averaged 19.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.4 steals in 18 games his senior season at Seton Hall in 2010-11.
He finished his career ranked third all-time in scoring at Seton Hall with 2,146 points and set a Big East Conference record with 201 made three-pointers in conference games.
Still, his senior season was interrupted when he missed 13 games with a wrist injury and was shot in the abdomen when he escaped robbers near his home in Harlem, a story first reported by SNY.tv.
“The wrist injury, all of that was just a little minor setback, it didn’t really bother me,” Hazell said. “Now I feel great, like nothing ever happened to me. So I’m just taking it step by step and working hard as hell.”
After all he’s been through, Hazell said he can only imagine what it would feel like to finally make an NBA roster.
“Oh, that would mean everything,” Hazell said. “I would just give my love to Seth Cohen for putting me in a great situation that I don’t think any other agent would’ve done. He’s not the big-time agent that everybody go after. He’s got me and MarShon Brooks, two good guys…so it would be all on him for getting me in this great situation for me to play basketball.”
Cohen, in turn, thinks the departure of Johnson could just open up the door for his client.
“Sometimes fate plays a role in terms of timing and it certainly opens a spot for a two guard and I think it may be a situation where it’s the right place, right time,” Cohen said. “So I’m excited for Jeremy.”
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Jeremy Hazell, the former Seton Hall star, had a two-word thought when the Atlanta Hawks opted to trade Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets.
“Thank God,” the 6-foot-5, 180-pound Hazell told SNY.tv by phone from Atlanta on Friday.
When the Hawks dealt Johnson to Brooklyn, it not only helped persuade Deron Williams to return to the Nets, but it opened up a chance for a guy like Hazell in Atlanta.
“It makes me more hungry because I know that could be my starting job right there,” Hazell said.
“He was a great player, he was scoring 27 points a game. That could be my little 15 points a game, with John Jenkins, the guy that we signed in the draft, so that could open an opportunity for me.”
The Hawks drafted the sharp-shooting Jenkins No. 23 overall out of Vanderbilt in the NBA Draft and he will have a chance to make an impression on the team.
“We’re very happy John was available at number 23, and we were able to get him,” said Hawks head coach Larry Drew. “He can really come off screens, and needs just a little bit of daylight to get his shot off. He has terrific range, and when you play against guys like that who can shoot the ball, it just gives you another weapon.”
Hazell and Jenkins are both expected to play with the Hawks summer league team in Las Vegas, along with former Pitt guard Brad Wanamaker, former Louisville guard Jerry Smith and former Louisville and UTEP forward Derrick Caracter of Scotch Plains-Fanwood, N.J.
“He does indeed have a realistic shot,” said Seth Cohen, the agent for both Hazell and Nets guard MarShon Brooks. “He has three major things going for him. He’s a great shooter/scorer and they just lost Joe Johnson. He’s a minimum salary guy which Atlanta absolutely needs. And they have been high on him since college, and really liked him then.
“Today Jeremy is an upgraded version of what he was coming out of school. He is shooting the ball better and more consistently, his body is stronger. He is more seasoned and experienced, and is more mature than he was coming out of school. I have witnessed it with my own eyes. I am very proud of his growth both off and on the court and as I have firmly believed since Day 1, there is a place for Jeremy in the league”
Hazell played briefly two seasons ago with Lucentum Alicante in Spain and has also appeared in camp with the Phoenix Suns. An All-Big East Third Team selection, Hazell averaged 19.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.4 steals in 18 games his senior season at Seton Hall in 2010-11.
He finished his career ranked third all-time in scoring at Seton Hall with 2,146 points and set a Big East Conference record with 201 made three-pointers in conference games.
Still, his senior season was interrupted when he missed 13 games with a wrist injury and was shot in the abdomen when he escaped robbers near his home in Harlem, a story first reported by SNY.tv.
“The wrist injury, all of that was just a little minor setback, it didn’t really bother me,” Hazell said. “Now I feel great, like nothing ever happened to me. So I’m just taking it step by step and working hard as hell.”
After all he’s been through, Hazell said he can only imagine what it would feel like to finally make an NBA roster.
“Oh, that would mean everything,” Hazell said. “I would just give my love to Seth Cohen for putting me in a great situation that I don’t think any other agent would’ve done. He’s not the big-time agent that everybody go after. He’s got me and MarShon Brooks, two good guys…so it would be all on him for getting me in this great situation for me to play basketball.”
Cohen, in turn, thinks the departure of Johnson could just open up the door for his client.
“Sometimes fate plays a role in terms of timing and it certainly opens a spot for a two guard and I think it may be a situation where it’s the right place, right time,” Cohen said. “So I’m excited for Jeremy.”
