Will Philadelphia 76ers NBA Draft Selections Hinge Upon Age?

Demetrius Jackson

Notre Dame junior point guard sensation likely would have been a first round pick in the 2015 NBA draft, but he opted to remain at school through his junior season.  It was this time a year ago that Sixer Sense’s own Patrick Koerbler picked up on the potential of the Notre Dame guard, predicting him as a likely lottery pick prospect,  grouping him with Providence point guard Kris Dunn and showing him ahead of Melo Trimble.

While Dunn has used the extra year to enhance his upside, Jackson has not won over the hearts of scouts with similar fashion. But that is not to say that he is not a lottery pick.  It’s just that his value has not risen as quickly in the opinion of many NBA analysts and scouts.

OFFENSE
Strengths

You would assume that an older prospect would have more polish, and Jackson does not disappoint in that regard.  He is versatile on offense, and has proven this year he can pass the ball around on the assist or simply keep the ball and take the shot.  He is proficient in pick-and-rolls, and he’s a fluid creator out of this set, both for himself and teammates. He is adept at drawing defenders in with penetration and kicking to open teammates. He has assumed the lead in Notre Dame’s offense, and his court vision and hands have helped him excel in an NBA-style offense.  He also doesn’t make many mistakes with the ball, as he averages just 2.2 turnovers per 40 minutes. But ball security is just one aspect of his game, as he’s a crafty finisher around the basket.  Despite his small stature, he’s a strong player who doesn’t mind attacking the rim off the bounce.

Weaknesses

Jackson has demonstrated an ability to pass the ball to the open man, but has not shown the same expertise as that of a Ben Simmons or a Kris Dunn.  It will be an area he will need to continue to address in the NBA.  He is also not quite perfected his perimeter shot, as he has drawn more attention from the defense even at long range.  He had attempted to compensate by increasing his shooting frequency, but that has only compounded the matter.

DEFENSE
Strengths

Jackson has a remarkably blood-hound like nature when defending the ball.  He’s good at defending the pick-and-roll, and he has great technique fighting through screens and trailing the opposing ball-handler: He makes great use of his overall quickness, and can maintain proximity to the ball for long periods of time.

Weaknesses

Jackson’s size has limited his defensive contribution, and his lower than optimum wing span has prevented him from being considered elite in this area. Adding to this, when he can fixate on the ball, his instincts are good.  But when defending away from the ball, he shows mental lapses and loses the action.  But that is par with Notre Dame’s team defense.

Jackson shows up early in the middle of the first round in most mock drafts, but there will be many restatements of prospect order between now and draft night.

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