Olivier’s an impressive guy. Olivier is a nice-sized point guard who can score. He led the ACC in scoring, became a much better playmaker. He came in here and really impressed us. – Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey

SALT LAKE CITY — Olivier Hanlan is Canadian, but he’s no stranger to playing baseball. He’s never played it in an organized league, but he’s dabbled in the sport with friends on occasion.

Hanlan got to put his throwing skills to the test last Saturday at Smith’s Ballpark, where he tossed out the first pitch before that night’s Salt Lake Bees game.

For the record, the Utah Jazz second-round pick was motivated to do better than Dante Exum’s off-target throw from a year ago.

“I did a bit better,” he said.

But did Hanlan deliver a strike into the catcher’s mitt?

“You can call it a strike,” he said. “It made it there, so that’s all that counts.”

Hanlan is now dealing with a different kind of pressure — in an entirely different sport — to deliver while the crowd is watching.

It’s very early, but so far the 6-foot-4 guard, who was selected 42nd overall in the June 25 draft, has had a better performance on the baseball mound than he has on the basketball court.

Through two summer league games, Hanlan is averaging just 2.0 points on 14.3 percent shooting. He didn’t dish out an assist in either of the Jazz’s two victories, and he’s turned the ball over twice in 31 total minutes.

Hanlan is certain to get another big opportunity Thursday night as the Jazz wrap up their own summer league schedule against the Philadelphia 76ers. Starting point guard Exum is listed as doubtful after having sprained his left ankle in Monday's game.

While it’s a bit of a rough start in the pros for the Boston College star, Hanlan knew it might take some time to adapt to his new playing environment.

The speed of the game is quicker than it was when he led the ACC in scoring last year (21.9 points average).

There’s 11 fewer seconds to make plays happen with the 24-second shot clock.

And his opponents are often bigger, stronger and faster than he faced on a daily basis in college and while playing for the Canadian U-19 team.

Hanlan admitted to letting his nerves get the best of him right before entering Monday’s game for the first time.

“Obviously you try to get rid of the jitters,” he said. “But being a basketball player and competitor, I love these moments. I’m loving the process. It’s a learning process for me.”

Hanlan said he learned quite a bit in the days leading up to the Utah Jazz Summer Leauge, simply by going up against guys with NBA experience in second-year point guards Exum and Bryce Cotton.

He’s trying to take a workmanlike attitude as he battles for a roster spot in a crowded point guard field, which might get more crowded if the Jazz end up signing Brazilian playmaker Raul Neto.

“Every day they expect me to put in the hours,” Hanlan said. “If you just approach it like a job and take it seriously in terms of repetition and extra hours to get better. Especially for a guy like me coming in, I have to put the hours in to earn my stripes.” Even with multiple point guards on the roster and Neto on the periphery, the Jazz like what Hanlan brings to the court. If they don’t sign him this year, they could send him overseas to play so they can retain his rights.

Fighting for his spot is nothing new to Hanlan, an Alymer, Quebec native who said he’s done that throughout his life. The 22-year-old had to earn his spot at a new high school after moving from Canada to New Hampshire and then again when he started playing for Boston College in college.

“I’m just trying to go out there and play hard,” he said, “try to get some playing time, just try to stay aggressive and play like I was playing in Boston College.”

The Jazz, who’ve previously had success with a Boston College point guard (Howard Eisley), would love that.

Not only did Hanlan lead the ACC in scoring, but he was also the conference’s best 3-point shooter last season at 43.6 percent. He was also the ACC’s fifth-best free-throw shooter (81.0 percent) and 10th in assists (4.0 per game).

“Olivier’s an impressive guy,” Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said. “Olivier is a nice-sized point guard who can score. He led the ACC in scoring, became a much better playmaker. He came in here and really impressed us.”

Coincidentally, Hanlan is Canadian like the Jazz’s first-round pick, Saskatoon-born Trey Lyles. The two were also in the same pre-draft workout group in June.

Both guys knocked the Jazz’s socks off in that session.

“His fitness level was superior. He’s already a professional in his approach in how he handled himself, how he carried himself,” Lindsey continued about Hanlan. “We plan on taking a long look at Olivier this summer.”

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