The American Fork native returns home for a deep-dive evaluation as Utah scouts potential post-draft additions to bolster their frontcourt depth and floor-spacing capabilities.
The Utah Jazz’s pre‑draft process continues this week as Michigan State forward Jaxson Kohler is headed to Salt Lake City for his second pre-draft workout. Kohler’s first workout was with the Indiana Pacers, and now Utah is set to take a closer look at the 6‑foot‑9 forward as they evaluate options beyond the top of the draft.
Kohler’s visit comes at a time when teams are beginning to narrow their lists and identify prospects who warrant deeper evaluation, especially with the draft now nearing the three-weeks-out mark. For Utah, the workout provides another opportunity to assess his skill set, conditioning and potential fit within a frontcourt that already features Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler. And while they probably won’t look his way when considering who to take with the No. 2 overall pick, Kohler could be an intriguing post-draft pick-up should the former Spartan not get drafted.
Utah doesn’t hold a second-round pick in the 2026 draft, as the San Antonio Spurs are in possession of what would’ve been the Jazz’s No. 35 pick. However, Indiana doesn’t pick at all in this draft, so unless another team shows interest in Kohler before the draft, it could signal an unexpected battle for his services once the draft concludes.
Kohler’s senior year at Michigan State was his breakout campaign as he averaged 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting at a 50.0% clip from the field. He also knocked down 38.9% of his three point shots and was a steady 86.9% from the free‑throw line. Across his career with the Spartans, Kohler averaged 6.9 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 50.2% overall and 37.6% from three.
Despite possessing an enviable spot in the draft, the Jazz are still using their pre‑draft process to cast a wide net, and Kohler fits the mold of a player who could thrive in Utah’s system. Even though Utah’s primary focus remains on the top of the board, Kohler, alongside other pre-draft workout prospects, is important to keep an eye on, especially as the Jazz move into a new era and look to fill out the team for success.
It’s also clear that Michigan State fans are high on Kohler and watching his pre-draft process with much anticipation. Should the Jazz land the stretch forward, it would also count as a homecoming for Kohler, as he was born in American Fork, UT.
