The Golden State Warriors have sent a scout to Australia to monitor the development of Justinian Jessup, league sources told ESPN.
Jessup, who was taken by the Warriors with the 51st overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, was stashed with the NBL’s Illawarra Hawks for the 2021 season and has impressed the franchise’s executives to the point where they’ve decided to more closely oversee his progress.
During his time in Australia, the scout — who’s currently in mandatory hotel quarantine, sources said — will also be conducting the regular duties of his job, evaluating talent across the NBL. He’ll only be authorized to attend Hawks practices that would be open to all scouts, per NBA guidelines.
Jessup, a 6’7 wing, is part of the NBL’s Next Stars program, and is averaging 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game for Brian Goorjian’s Hawks, who currently sit on an 8-6 record.
Jessup is widely regarded as one of the best shooters in the NBL, hitting from behind the three-point line at a 46.8 percent clip.
The move from the Warriors isn’t completely unprecedented for an NBA team. The New Orleans Pelicans have an Australian-based scout who liaises with Didi Louzada, whom the franchise drafted in 2019 with the 35th overall pick. Louzada is also a Next Star, and in the midst of his second season with the Sydney Kings.