UTEP's Julyan Stone Signs a 2 Year Deal with the Denver Nuggets

by Adrian Mac on Dec 10, 2011 10:05 AM MST in UTEP Miners Basketball

While this was noted in the FanShots yesterday, I thought it was worthy of a full post. Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com reports via twitter, that Julyan Stone's Denver Nuggets contract is for 2 years and is for $1.1 million dollars.

@AlexKennedyNBA
Alex Kennedy Julyan Stone's deal with the Denver Nuggets is two years, $1.1 million. Follow him on Twitter: @J_Stone5
Dec 10 via webFavorite RetweetReply

Kalen Daremo of Roundball Mining Company, the ESPN affiliated True Hoop site for the Denver Nuggets, had this to say on Julyan.

From a pure scouting standpoint, Stone is vastly intriguing. When combing the Web for various breakdowns and analysis of his game you tend to discover similar observations: great size (for a point guard), high motor, outstanding vision, versatile, athletic, good decision-maker, etc.

SBNation Denver has a note on the signing here.

Stone averaged 8.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 35 games as a senior. He made 51 percent of his shots, but he made just 2.9 shots on 5.8 attempts. However, he is an intriguing prospect for the Nuggets to look at during camp. He is 6 foot 7, 200 pounds and could play the point, shooting guard and small forward. He'll need to improve his shooting if he wants to stick around in the league.

Congratulations to Julyan Stone. He had one hell of a career in El Paso and I think the Nuggets have a lot more fans in West Texas today than ever before.

Also, let's not forget how great this is for UTEP's hoops program. UTEP will hopefully now have two alums playing in the NBA next season in Stone and Derrick Caracter of the Los Angeles Lakers. From 1981 to 1995, UTEP had 15 players selected in the NBA Draft. After a ridiculous 15 year drought, Caracter broke the streak when the Lakers took him. Tim Floyd can use any recruiting advantage he can get, and it's awesome that he can now tell a prospect that UTEP has put players in the NBA in back-to-back seasons.

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Stone

Has Stone made the final roster for the year or is his deal just a contract in place for him to make the team? Can he still get cut? Hope this make sense. Just wondering.

by chris 87 on Dec 10, 2011 10:19 AM MST reply actions

Good question- he can get cut at any point

Or moved to D-League— but i think a 2 year deal indicates that the nuggets have him in their plans for more than a tryout

Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans

by Adrian Mac on Dec 10, 2011 10:49 AM MST up reply actions

And I will get more info on this-- not sure how the new NBA CBA affects deals like this

Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans

by Adrian Mac on Dec 10, 2011 10:49 AM MST up reply actions

For the love god Julyan, please don't tell me you're going into TC with that god awful jump shot?

Anyway, good luck to him. Only a matter of time before Ukraine’s leading scorer, Randy Culpepper gets his shot at the NBA.

2 Miners from the 09 tournament team on NBA rosters, Caracter and Stone.

by TooLegitToQuit on Dec 10, 2011 2:03 PM MST via mobile reply actions

He's been in El Paso working out on Campus this whole time, so I would imagine he has been working on his shot a whole bunch. Probably getting some help from Coach Floyd and Johnson too

"BCS does not apply to basketball. It's football. You can't tell me Memphis is a mid-major. You can't tell me UTEP, with its history of players, crowd attendance and NCAA Tournament berths, is a mid-major. Same for Gonzaga and St. Mary's - it doesn't apply. These are high-major programs that can play. All we can do is win games and hope others recognize. … We should pass the eye test - if anybody ever watches us." - Tim Floyd

Follow Me on Twitter

by jakeprobst on Dec 10, 2011 6:35 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah-- hes been working very hard with the IMG camp

That link to Roundball Mining Company has a video that shows what his routine has been- good watch. I’ll frontpage it for tomorrow.

It’s a great opportunity for him and UTEP— hope he makes it.

Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans

by Adrian Mac on Dec 11, 2011 2:22 PM MST up reply actions

julyans good defender

Lord knows the nba doesn’t have an abundance of those. Congrats Julyan.

by lifegrind on Dec 11, 2011 2:05 PM MST reply actions

Agree

6-6 point guards dont come along often. His ball handling and passing was what put him on Denver’s and New York’s radar. He’s going to have very good shot to make a roster. The Knicks really wanted him in camp.

Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans

by Adrian Mac on Dec 11, 2011 2:23 PM MST up reply actions