Jerel McNeal signs with the Utah Jazz!

[Knight Commission]

The Salt Lake City Tribune reporter, Bill Oram suggests McSteal will be resigned

Bill Oram
‏@tribjazz 9h  Jerel McNeal said he's received no official word about 10day contract, which expires tonight. But, Jazz told him to be at practice Sat. a.m.

[MURFC]

The Salt Lake City Tribune reporter, Bill Oram suggests McSteal will be resigned

Bill Oram
‏@tribjazz 9h  Jerel McNeal said he's received no official word about 10day contract, which expires tonight. But, Jazz told him to be at practice Sat. a.m.

Awesome.  Hang in there Jerel, throw a good pitch, throw a good pitch, butcher baker candelstick maker, etc.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Awesome.  Hang in there Jerel, throw a good pitch, throw a good pitch, butcher baker candelstick maker, etc.

Hell yeah! Would really like to see him stick. Even if he only gets another 10-day contract, that's a ton more $$ than D-League.  Took the road less traveled (Robert Frost).

[MarquetteNation]

Bill Oram on twitter says he's sign for the rest of the season. Great news!

[mu_hilltopper]

That is good news.

Well .. the Jazz have 5 more games to the season.  They are battling the Lakers for the 8th spot in the playoffs, currently a half game back.

GO JAZZ!

[Avenue Commons]

Suddenly a Jazz fan! Congrats, Jerel, way to chase that dream.

[Otule's Glass Eye]

Bill Oram on twitter says he's sign for the rest of the season. Great news!

No way, that is AWESOME! Jerel's finally gotten his big break!

[augoman]

now put him on the court!!

[esotericmindguy]

Suddenly a Jazz fan! Congrats, Jerel, way to chase that dream.

As if knocking Kobe out of the playoffs wasn't reason enough.

[AZWarrior]

I LOVE the Jazz!!   

MU West.

[77ncaachamps]

Jazz Signs Jerel McNeal for Remainder of Season
6-3 Guard Originally Joined Utah from NBA Development League's Bakersfield Jam
SALT LAKE CITY (April 6, 2013) – The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed guard Jerel McNeal for the remainder of the season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Following the move, the Jazz roster remains at 15 players.

McNeal (6-3, 200, Marquette), whose first name is pronounced Jah-rell, was originally signed by the Jazz to a 10-day contract on March 27 from the NBA Development League's Bakersfield Jam but has not yet appeared in a game. He was the NBA's 30th overall D-League Call-Up of the 2012-13 season and 26th different player called up.

A 25-year-old two-time NBA D-League All-Star selection, McNeal averaged 18.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 44 games (36 starts) in 2012-13 for the Jam, who acquired him in a trade with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers prior to the season. McNeal also tallied 13 points and seven assists for the Prospects team during the 2013 D-League All-Star Game on February 14 as part of NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston. In addition, McNeal was a D-League All-Star selection in 2011 while a member of the Vipers.

Undrafted in 2009, this marks McNeal's second career NBA regular-season stint, having previously spent 10 days with the New Orleans Hornets from March 9-19, 2011, although he did not appear in a game. McNeal attended 2012 training camp with the Toronto Raptors but was waived prior to the 2012-13 season, and has also participated in NBA training camps with the Los Angeles Clippers (2009) and Houston Rockets (2010). He has also played with Dexia Mons-Hainaut in Belgium (2009-10) and Sutor Montegranaro of the Italian League (2011-12), in addition to D-League seasons with Rio Grande Valley (2010-11) and Bakersfield (2012-13).

The Chicago native played four seasons at Marquette University (2005-09), averaging 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists during his tenure. McNeal finished his four-year career as Marquette's all-time leader in scoring (1,985), steals (287) and games played (130). In his senior season (2008-09), McNeal was named an Associated Press Second Team All-American, First Team All-Big East, USBWA Distract 5 Player of the Year and Marquette University's Most Valuable Player after averaging 19.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.03 steals.

McNeal became the 10th D-League Call-Up in Jazz history, joining Rusty LaRue (2000-01), Mikki Moore (2003-04), Louis Amundson (2006-07), Sundiata Gaines (2009-10), Othyus Jeffers (2009-10), Marcus Cousin (2010-11), Kyle Weaver (2010-11), Blake Ahearn (2011-12) and Travis Leslie (2012-13).


http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/jazz-signs-jerel-mcneal-remainder-season

[Eldon]

Even more reason for me to root against Kobe!  Go Jazz!!

[chren21]

Great news.

[MUFlutieEffect]

Would have to assume he'll see the floor at some point, right?  Congrats to Jerel!

[77ncaachamps]

Would have to assume he'll see the floor at some point, right?  Congrats to Jerel!

I hope so!

Shoot, all he needs is to BE on the court for just one second of game play for it to count!

DJO logged 6 min in 4 games and Allie McGuire logged 10 min in 2 games!

Jerel should join them!

[TomW1365]

Jerel hasn't logged a minute yet for the Utah Jazz.  The Jazz are one game out of the last spot behind the Lakers.  The Jazz need the Lakers to lose and need to win their game against Memphis (away).  
It doesn't look like this will be the season for Jerel to log a minute in the NBA.  At least he's getting paid and a look at practice.  
Even if they make the playoffs, I think NBA playoff rosters are 13 guys w/ one that can't dress/play.  I counted 15 guys on the Utah Jazz roster.  http://espn.go.com/nba/team/roster/_/name/utah/utah-jazz
Jerel was such a beast at Marquette... what a competitor.  I'm glad he's been able to be a part of the NBA (albeit on the bench) but I'd love to see him get an opportunity for sticking it out as long as he has in D-League/international play.  
It's so hard to believe that there are so many guys forgo their final year (or two) of college to take this rough road towards their dreams.  

[Otule's Glass Eye]

I see Jerel on the end of the bench but he's not dressed.

[Otule's Glass Eye]

Hopefully they give him another look next year, they only have 5 players under contract as of right now. Tonight would have been a good night for him to play, Utah's getting blown out.

[chapman]

Didn't have a shot of playing tonight with Utah trying for the playoff spot.  If the draft class really is super weak, that would seemingly correlate to less depth at the end of rosters next year and less willingness to hold onto second round picks, which helps the chances for guys like Jerel.  Hope he can grit it out and make a roster.