Jackson has gotten progressively better as the season has gone along, finding his rhythm in veteran-heavy Kansas rotation and rounding into form as a Top 15 candidate for National Player of the Year as a result. The ultra-athletic freshman is among the more impressive athletes in this year’s class, and provides the type of two-way versatility that should have teams displaying extensive interest anywhere from the second overall pick down.
As special as Jackson’s upside is offensively, his stock is rooted in defensive excellence. Even though he doesn’t possess the greatest length (6-8 with a 6-10 wingspan), his lateral quickness and excellent instincts give him the ability to clamp down on virtually any perimeter player on the opposing side. He already has a well-built frame for a 20-year-old, and has plenty of space to continue filling out as the time transpires. Defense is something Jackson wields over the rest of the prospects in this tier, and something that could — and should — give him a nice boost on draft night.
Offensively, Jackson’s is a well-oiled machine with one slightly dysfunctional part — his jumper. Jackson’s special athleticism helps him in numerous other areas offensively, both as a slasher and in transition. He makes hard cuts to the rim and boasts the ability to play above it with uncannily graceful ease, while his ball handling skills and impressive speed make him an unnerving figure for opposing defenses on the fastbreak.
Jackson is also an incredibly advanced passer — a special skill for somebody of his stature with his physical tools to possess. He makes stellar reads when pushing the ball in transition and is a more than capable pick-and-roll threat, both as the ball handler and the roll man. He won’t be the outright facilitator in the same sense as a Ben Simmons, but he is more than capable of setting up plays — and teammates — when the opportunities present themselves.
Previous Ranking: 4
Here’s a gorgeous off-balance entry pass.
Jackson has all the makings of a star player at the next level, with that subpar jumper of his being the only real hurdle in terms of getting to that level. In a league built around spacing, it’s most certainly a noteworthy flaw — but one that can be improved, as we’ve seen with the evolution of guys like Otto Porter Jr. and Andrew Wiggins recently. Not to mention, he’s already ahead of them in some capacity, tallying a 37.7 percent clip from deep on 2.5 attempts per game this season. If he’s able to clear up some of the extra gunk in his form, per se, that could be a problem he easily mends.
Elite defenders with advanced basketball decision-making skills like Jackson, especially on the wing, are always going to emerge as prime prospects in any draft class — and this is no different.