Jazz hire Sheubrooks as executive director of global, pro scouting
The Jazz are expanding their worldwide basketball reach.
Utah announced the hiring Monday of Rich Sheubrooks as executive director of global and pro scouting.
Several NBA-related people praised the hire upon learning of the Jazz's move, and Utah general manager Kevin O'Connor sounded equally enthused.
Sheubrooks is well-connected throughout the basketball community — he spent the past 14 years organizing the Nike Hoop Summit and the last four serving as the Charlotte Bobcats' director of global scouting. As the league becomes more global, the Jazz will rely upon Sheubrooks to discover and evaluate prospects with home countries ranging from Africa to China. Four international players were selected during the lottery of the 2011 NBA Draft, including Jazz No. 3 overall pick Enes Kanter, whose breakout occurred during the 2010 Summit.
"[Sheubrooks'] background speaks volumes for what he does and doesn't do," O'Connor said. "I've had a relationship with Rich for a long time. We were just kind of fortunate to be what I consider in the right place at the right time."
Sheubrooks will round out a three-person Jazz scouting staff that includes Walt Perrin, vice president of player personnel, and head scout David Fredman. Alberto Dal Cin, formerly a part-time director of international scouting, is no longer affiliated with the organization.Sheubrooks will handle everything from professional and collegiate scouting to European player evaluations. He will be based in Spain next season, but could eventually relocate to the United States.
While some NBA teams have resorted to layoffs during the lockout and are eyeing further staff reductions, the Jazz have taken another direction.
"We're thrilled to have someone with his experience and his knowledge on our roster," said O'Connor, who sounded refreshed after taking a brief summer break from NBA life.
O'Connor and Sheubrooks have known each other for about a decade. Their lives trace back to Sheubrooks' teenage years, though, when a former college basketball teammate of O'Connor's played with Sheubrooks during high school.
O'Connor added that plans are still in place for key Jazz personnel to convene later this month as they prepare for the start of the 2011-12 NBA season. The league's lockout has extended past the 10-week mark, and a crucial labor meeting between owners and players will be held Tuesday in New York.
Brian T. Smith
bsmith@sltrib.comTwitter: @tribjazzfacebook.com/tribjazz
Press release:
Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor announced today that Rich Sheubrooks has been hired by the franchise as its Executive Director of Global and Pro Scouting. In this newly created position, Sheubrooks will focus on the scouting of international prospects as well as the professional leagues.
"We feel fortunate to be able to bring someone in with as much international experience as Rich has," said Kevin O'Connor. "Rich's knowledge and background can be a real asset to the Jazz organization in what has clearly become a global game."
Sheubrooks joins the Jazz after spending the previous four seasons as the Director of Global Scouting for the Charlotte Bobcats. Sheubrooks is well known on the international basketball scene for his role as a Global Basketball Consultant for Nike where he has played a key role in organizing the Nike Hoop Summit the past 14 years. The annual game features the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Select Team playing against a World Select Team, comprised of top players 19-years-old or younger from around the world. Sheubrooks has a long history with the sports apparel brand, working as European Sports Marketing Manager from 1997-99 and Basketball Grassroots & Events Manager from 1990-1994.
Prior to his work with the Bobcats, Sheubrooks spent six seasons in the same role with the Memphis Grizzlies. He has also served as the Director of the Michael Jordan Euro Tour (2007) and as the Executive Director of the Charlotte Sports Commission (1994-97). Sheubrooks has also worked as an NBA Analyst for Sky TV in the United Kingdom since 2004. In addition, he has collegiate coaching experience having spent three seasons as head coach at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville) from 1976-79, following two seasons each as an assistant at both Texas A&I and Midwestern State.
Sheubrooks earned a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M Corpus Christi and his master's degree from Texas A&M Kingsville. Having lived in Europe for the past 12 years, Sheubrooks and his wife, Muriel Helms, currently reside in Barcelona, Spain, while also maintaining a home in Lake Norman, N.C.