Jarrod Uthoff

Video analysis of some of the more notable things NBA scouts were able to see from Jarrod Uthoff's performance against Iowa State, both good and bad, on either end of the floor.

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More from DX:
-Uthoff Interview
-Uthoff Scouting Report

Matt Williams

Coming off a season where he earned All-Big Ten Third Team honors averaging 12.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, playing alongside 2015 second round pick Aaron White, Jarrod Uthoff returned to Des Moines figuring to build his own NBA resume in the wake of White's departure, and potentially help the Hawkeyes to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Getting off to a sensational start, Uthoff's strong play offensively through the middle portion of the season helped guide Fran McCaffery's program to a #3 ranking in the AP poll, Iowa's highest in almost 30 years. However, the redshirt senior struggled at times down the stretch, after driving the Hawkeyes' offense efficiency to remarkable heights by the end of January, when Iowa was one of just over a dozen teams in all of Division I scoring over 1 point per possession.

Over his first 22 games, Uthoff scored 1.1 points per possession over 16.9 possessions per game, while shooting 46% from beyond the arc. Over his last 12, he scored 0.95 points per possession over 20.2 possessions per game, while shooting 27% from deep. Iowa frequently looked to him to shoot them out of trouble, as virtually every Hawkeye rotation player outside of Peter Jok struggled offensively late in the year. Even with his less than impressive play in February and March, Uthoff ended the season averaging 18.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, earning Consensus All-American Second Team and Academic All-American First Team honors, while leading the Hawkeyes back to the NCAA Tournament. Considered a potential prospect showing an impressive scoring repertoire in a secondary role a year ago, Uthoff's play, especially early in the year, earned him plenty of attention from NBA scouts as he made his case as one of the top forward prospects in the senior class.



Standing just under 6'10 in shoes, with a 6'11.5 wingspan, Uthoff has tremendous size for a small forward, and despite lacking prototypical length, could conceivably play power forward in small lineups depending on the situation. Tipping the scales at right around 215 pounds, the Cedar Rapids native is stronger than he looks on first glance, but could stand to add some weight to his frame, which has been a challenge for him to this point in his career. He is a solid, but not spectacular athlete on the whole, though he makes good use of the tools he does have on the defensive end, mitigating some concerns about how his physical tools might translate.

Uthoff's appeal from an NBA perspective isn't based as much on his physical tools as it is on his impressive, albeit inconsistent, offensive ability. An exceptionally smooth, prolific jump shooter who can score in a variety of ways, Uthoff did a little bit of everything for the Hawkeye's this season as the team's clear first option, ultimately finishing seventh in our top-100 scoring 23.9 points per-40 minutes pace adjusted. A dangerous threat from beyond the arc with his feet set, he had plenty of off screen actions run for him, but also made an impact with his instincts cutting off the ball and filling lanes in transition, while also seeing far more opportunities to create his own shot in isolation and post up situations than he did early in his career.

Even as his role has grown, Uthoff's skill set remains predicated on his jump shot. 35% of his shot attempts in the half court were catch and shoot jumpers last season, of which he converted 39%, frequently using his size to his advantage to shoot over close outs. Moving well without the ball and shooting the ball with impressive accuracy on shots out of rhythm after jab steps or simply pausing to size up the defense, Uthoff's mechanics are very fluid and consistent, even if he doesn't get much lift on his release. His ability to make shots from beyond the arc and from the midrange should help him provide value as a floor spacer at the next level. His 80% career shooting from the free throw line won't hurt either.

Lacking great ball-handling ability and blow-by quickness, Uthoff frequently fell back on his ability to get off shots from the midrange when looking to create for himself. Taking, but also making difficult spinning jump shots in the post, face-up one dribble jumpers moving away from the rim, one legged fadeaways from the midrange, and even 15-footers off of multiple rips throughs or fakes, Uthoff shot 45% in one-on-one situations, despite the high degree of difficulty of his attempts. It doesn't seem likely that Uthoff will be asked to create as heavily for himself at the next level, but his ability to potentially take smaller players in the post and his familiarity with making difficult shots over defenders could be a plus.

Aside from his jump shooting ability, Uthoff is a good, but not great finisher inside. He is not particularly comfortable scoring around defenders in close, and given that he isn't too quick off the dribble or creative in the air, he's limited when he can't build a head of steam and elevate right to the rim. Despite his limitations, Uthoff shot a respectable 59% around the rim in the half court last season, as he is noticeably more explosive when the defense doesn't divert him off his driving angle to the rim, and his knack for moving without the ball leads to some largely uncontested look inside.

Possessing a strong feel for the game, Uthoff posted the second lowest turnover rate among the 267 players that used over 500 possessions last season, due in some part to his shot selection, but also thanks to his patience and understanding of his role and limitations. He's not a prolific playmaker, but is a willing passer as well.

Defensively, Uthoff is a fairly unique player on paper. He was one of just eight NCAA players, and only two from high major conferences along with Chris Boucher, to play over 25 minutes per game and average over 1 steal and 3 blocks per-40 minutes pace adjusted. Uthoff may not be the quickest, longest, or most physically imposing defender, but he is a bit of a savant when it comes to contesting shots, showing impressive anticipation and a knack for getting his hand on the ball cleanly just as the opposing shooter is releasing it at and away from the rim.

An engaged defender on the ball, Uthoff plays with good focus, and stays in position well, even if he doesn't get in the lowest stance or have a particularly stellar competitive streak. He isn't always very physical denying dribble penetration, but plays the ball to be sure he can get a hand up when his man looks to shoot, helping make up for his lack of freakish quickness. Off the ball, Uthoff isn't quite as reliable as he tends to lose his man and isn't particularly quick to recover. His strength wasn't a major concern at the college level as he did a decent job holding his ground defending the block and boxing out, but it will be interesting to see he fares as a pro against stronger power forwards. The same can be said about his ability to close out and keep quicker small forwards in front of him.

One of the breakout stars of the Big Ten this season, Jarrod Uthoff raised his profile considerably in the eyes of NBA scouts as a fifth year senior. The circuitous route he took to collegiate success means he'll be 23 most of his first season at the pro level, and his lack of great explosiveness and average mental toughness limits his upside to a degree, but his jump shot and perimeter skill level make him a player a team could look to invest in as a second round pick in the hopes he can grow into a roleplayer who can fill in at either forward position.

A video interview with standout Iowa forward Jarod Uthoff at the 2016 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

Whether they are able to bust out of their slump will depend heavily on their senior forward Jarrod Uthoff, who at 6'9 is one of the most skilled perimeter players you'll find in college basketball at his size. Uthoff's percentages have fallen to a middling 49% from 2-point range and 28% from beyond the arc over the last ten games, but more disappointing has been the passivity and inability to handle physicality you wouldn't expect from a player turning 23 years old in two months. Uthoff's talent and natural basketball instincts have never been questioned, he is one of the best shot-blockers you'll find for a ¾ combo forward at 3.3 per-40 for example, but his stoic demeanor and lack of toughness in late-game situations has some NBA scouts perplexed.

Josh Riddell

Jarrod Uthoff's collegiate career got off to a slow start and he is just now starting to find his footing. After enrolling in the University of Wisconsin as the 111th ranked recruit according to RSCI in 2011, he redshirted his freshman season. He then decided to transfer but was caught in a lengthy transfer saga that saw Bo Ryan initially limit his ability to transfer before relenting to public pressure and allowing Uthoff to enroll at the University of Iowa.

He then had to sit out a second straight season due to transfer rules and he finally got to make his Hawkeye debut in the 2013-14 season. After playing a supporting role in his first season, he took on a larger role in his redshirt junior season where he averaged 16.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per 40 minutes. Returning for his senior season, he is starting to catch the eye of NBA scouts and another strong season could place him firmly in the draft conversation.

Uthoff is somewhat of a mixed bag from a physical standpoint. While he may not have the single attribute that makes him stand out and will be above average relative to NBA players, his overall athletic package builds a nice foundation for his prospects. Measured at 6'9.5 at the 2015 Nike Skills Academy, he is very skinny considering his age (216 pounds) and has a poor 6'10.5 wingspan. He has the height to measure up to perimeter players but may not have the length or physicality to compete.

He doesn't have great speed for a perimeter player in the open court but he has long strides and runs smoothly down the floor. He doesn't get much lift on his jump shot, so at first glance he doesn't look explosive, but he has the bounce off of two feet in the lane to dunk in traffic.



Uthoff is mainly a jump shooter with 68.9% of his field goal attempts classified as jumpers by Synergy Sports Technology. In catch and shoot situations, he has a confident release and is a consistent shot maker, connecting on 38% of these attempts according to Synergy Sports Technology. Many of these attempts were three pointers, as 40% of his field goal attempts were from beyond the arc. He doesn't have the quickest release and his release point isn't that high, so it may not be easy for him to get clean looks against NBA defenders when he doesn't have ample daylight.

He isn't as accurate shooting on the move, either or transition or coming off screens. He struggles to get on balance which can throw off his shooting motion. His counter move to being a stand still 3-point shooter is a strong pump fake before a one dribble pull-up jumper inside the arc. He can create space by forcing the defender to bite on his fake before taking a big step with his one dribble to get away from his defender. He has success with these shots, shooting 45.6% according to Synergy Sports Technology.

When Uthoff puts the ball on the floor, he isn't looking to do much other than take one dribble and pull up. He's a limited passer with his eyes focused on the basket when he has the ball and he doesn't have the ability to get all the way to the rim by himself.

Uthoff took only 53 shots around the rim last season according to Synergy Sports Technology, many coming off cuts. He's a good finisher considering his lanky frame as he can make plays above the rim. He avoids contact, attempting just 3.0 free throws per 40 minutes pace adjusted, but he's a crafty enough finisher at the rim to allow him to covert 60.4% of his attempts according to Synergy Sports Technology. As a 22 year old senior, he will have to become more comfortable absorbing contact around the rim to show he can withstand the physicality of the NBA game.

Despite his average strength and length, Uthoff is a little better defensively than you might expect. He's versatile for his size, able to switch onto nearly anyone on the perimeter and stay in front of them without fouling. He does have a tendency to play a few steps off perimeter players to give himself a better shot at disrupting penetration which gives his opponent open air to shoot over him. If teams ask him to play tighter to his man, he may be susceptible to getting beat off the dribble if he can't match his opponent's quickness.

He tallied a unique combination of steals (1.5) and blocks (2.2) per 40 minutes pace adjusted, which further demonstrates his versatility on this end of the floor. He also contributes as a defensive rebounder, pulling down 6.1 per 40 minutes pace adjusted. He has quick reactions and instinctive timing that allow him to be a good shot blocker and rebounder.

With the graduation of Aaron White, Uthoff will be asked to take on a larger offensive role for the Hawkeyes this season. With his outside shooting, NBA organizations have already taken notice of his potential. Turning 23 in May, his ceiling may be somewhat limited but teams will continue to monitor his progression to see if he adds to his skill set to be able to fulfill a role with a NBA team. Big small forwards who can stretch the floor and guard multiple positions are very much en vogue in today's NBA, and Uthoff is in a great situation to prove he's worth of a roster spot this season.