Mar 11, 2015; Greensboro, NC, USA; Boston College Eagles guard Olivier Hanlan (21) with the ball as North Carolina Tar Heels forward J.P. Tokoto (13) defends in the first half in the second round at Greensboro Coliseum.  Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Over the weekend, Utah Jazz combo guard Olivier Hanlan signed with Lithuanian power BC Zalgiris Kaunas.  The former Boston College standout was selected by Utah in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft.  Hanlan’s deal is for one guaranteed year with a team option for a second. 

He is the second player with Jazz ties to join Zalgiris in the last week.  Aussie forward and Jazz summer league standby Brock Motum signed with the club just days before Hanlan. 

Hanlan struggled to make an impact for the Jazz during summer league play.  In eight games between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, he averaged just over four points and one assist per contest and struggled to shoot the ball, both from the field and the free throw line. 

Further complicating Hanlan’s bid to snag a roster spot was the overabundance of guards already on the team, even after the injury to Dante Exum.  Nonetheless, the explosive scoring ability Hanlan displayed in college could make the Quebecois prospect the team’s next draft-and-stash curiosity. 

Jazz fans have clamored for more than their fair share of European enigmas.  The team drafted Andrei Kirilenko and Raul Lopez with late first-round picks, then had to wait on their arrivals.  More recently, Raul Neto and Ante Tomic were left to develop their games in Spain. 

Obviously, the team’s track record has been hit and miss with Euro stash players.  Tomic ultimately decided to remain with FC Barcelona.  Neto signed with the Jazz this summer and is set to begin his rookie season.  Lopez, who was famously drafted before Tony Parker, fell prey to injury. 

Meanwhile, Andrei Kirilenko ultimately became one of the greatest players in franchise history and one of the most unique defenders in the NBA. 

While Hanlan has a steep hill to climb in order to achieve that level of success, his size and his ability to shoot and score the basketball in college lend credence to the idea that he could develop into a quality player.  Now is simply not the right time to begin his Jazz career. 

Time will tell whether or not Hanlan ever becomes a factor at the NBA-level.  Either way, we can probably expect he and Motum to do their best Stockton-to-Malone impression as Zalgiris aims for Euroleague glory.