Despite limited minutes, Jackson emerged as one of the best rim protectors in college basketball, averaging 3.0 blocks per game. He was also a 39.6 percent shooter from range, giving Tom Izzo a dynamic pick-and-pop threat in the frontcourt.
Those are both skills that NBA teams will covet. His length, strength and instincts should make Jackson one of the better defensive bigs in a class littered with high-end frontcourt talent. His shooting is also a valuable weapon in the modern NBA.
He’s a polished scorer on the block as well, showcasing a nice set of moves around the rim. I was high on Jackson coming into the season, so I’ve been nothing short of vindicated when it comes to the preseason hype I tried to generate.