[LA12Participant]

 Let me preface this post by saying that I’ve been a HUGE Wiggins supporter from day one. However, it seems like he’s becomer really one dimensional with his scoring. Josh Jackson compares to him physically and athletically, but he seems like he has a more well rounded game (at least at the collegiate level). He’s already looking like a better rebounder and playmaker and just seems to have an edge to him that I really like. When comparing Jackson’s NBA prospects to Wiggins coming out of college, who do you guys think would be the better prospect and which would you take? (hypothetically of course, if they were both coming out of college as freshman in the same year)

[Robb_CParticipant]

 Go Google Robb_c NBAdraft.net Josh Jackson Vs Andrew Wiggins (Sr) read that thread.

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

Really if they were both coming out at the same time it’s Wiggins. It’s not close. I really don’t see them being comparable. Jackson is more creative and more shifty and has the potential to be a full time sg, but Wiggins has that dream size and dimensions for a sf like Scottie. Also Jackson isn’t a true freshman like Wiggins was. I think Jackson is 20yrs old, and Wiggins was a 18 yrs old freshman

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

It’s not close? Hm, I’d say it’s pretty close, so close that I might actually give Jackson the edge.

Yea, Wiggins has dream size for a sf, but does he utilize them to his full advantage? He barely has the energy to grab rebounds and he never makes plays on defense. For a kid with such long arms, he sure gets so little deflections and defensive stats.

Coming out of college, Jackson was the way better ball-handler. Even at this point in Wiggins’ career, Jackson is still the better ball-handler and playmaker than Wiggins. Jackson just knows how to play the game, Wiggins, at times seems to rely too much on his one dribble pullup and athleticsm. And yes I’ve watched a lot of his games.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Wiggins, but to say "it isn’t close" you make it seem that Wiggins was head over heels over Jackson coming out of college. Skill-wise, Jackson is the better player. Physical tools, it’s Wiggins.

 

 

[EndlessknightParticipant]

Wiggins started his freshman year at 18 and turn 19 that Feb, Jackson started this year at 19 and turned 20 this Feb. So this is exactly one year difference in freshman ages not 2.

Wiggins had the better jump but Jackson is the better ball-handler, passer and rebounder.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 I’m going with Wiggins. I’ve been saying since the first mixtape I saw of Jackson that he is incredibly overrated and will fall from the number one pick. I think he will be a solid NBA player but nothing more than a Wilson chandler Rudy Gay type. The only thing I see him doing better than Wiggins is pass but even then there’s a difference between making the smart pass and trying to make the highlight pass. I think jackson is just trying to make highlight passes. 

The jury is still out on Wiggins but I’d like to see more from him. 

[Bill Walton’s KneesParticipant]

 Out of curiosity, have you watched any KU games recently? Jackson is a better rebounder and passer the. Wiggins- and he doesn’t, if ever, go for the highlight pass. He’s an expert at post entry passes and makes great decisions on the fast break. Really the complete opposite of Wiggins’s time at KU.

 

[FritzParticipant]

 As a KU fan who has watched almost all their KU games, I am actually going to go with Jackson. 

Jackson is definitely having a better first season in terms of the eye test. I think Wiggins has a slight edge in athleticsm and his jumper is better. Jackson is a better ball handler, defender, and passer. 

However what gives Jackson the edge in my opinion is his mentality and motor. Josh Jackson really has that KG intensity to him while Wiggins is almost the opposite. I see Jackson as MKG 2.0 with a much better chance at developing a good outside shot. It’s close and I think both have top 10 in the NBA with an outside shot at top 5 top ceiling potential. I think Wiggins will end up being the better offensive talent but Jackson will have more of an impact as a two way player. 

 

 

 

 

[Bill Walton’s KneesParticipant]

 His jump shot is already light years ahead of MKG’s.  Over the past couple of weeks he’s shooting right around 50% from 3 and his hitch in his shot is slowly becoming non-existent.  While shooting 55% from the stripe shows he has a ways to go, every other aspect of his shooting game has improved drastically.

[Bill Walton’s KneesParticipant]

 His jump shot is already light years ahead of MKG’s.  Over the past couple of weeks he’s shooting right around 50% from 3 and his hitch in his shot is slowly becoming non-existent.  While shooting 55% from the stripe shows he has a ways to go, every other aspect of his shooting game has improved drastically.

[r377Participant]

Wiggins is a bit one dimensional with just scoring and could prob score more ppg than Jackson.

Jackson is the better defender, passer and rebounder – he might be an Iggy type 18/20-6-5 type of guy.

I would give Jackson the slight edge over Wiggins being more versatile

[jjj10manParticipant]

 Jackson just play like a Wiggins if Wiggins stayed 2 years instead of one (besides the shooting difference which Jackson is starting to pick up on). 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 This is kind of hard to do because you have to disregard everything we currently know about Wiggins as an NBA player so far and just compare him to Jackson as the type of player he was projected to be coming out of college. He has been kind of one-demonsional so far is his NBA career, but he was projected by most to be much further along in terms of defense, rebounding, and playmaking by this point.

Since we are just comparing them in terms of what we knew about Wiggins at the time compared with what we know about Jackson now, I would probably go with Wiggins. He is definitely the more explosive natural athlete of the two, would seem to have all the physical tools to be an elite defender and his shooting form was definitely better Jackson. Jackson clearly edges Wiggins out in terms of playmaking and feel for the game, but he is also a full year older. Wiggins just seemed to be the more enticing prospect and would be very difficult to pass up.

Of course, if you are going to base your opinion on 3 years of watching Wiggins play in the NBA and fail to develop several key facets of his game, you might feel differently.

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 People are forgetting Wiggins was a terrific defender in college and averaged 6 rebounds per game on a team with Embiid and Perry Ellis. Those things haven’t translated to the NBA to this point but as a prospect, Wiggins looked like a guy who could become a two-way force. 

Where Jackson has him beat is the intensity aspect and the playmaking. Wiggins tends to coast. Jackson, from everything I’ve heard doesn’t have that issue. And he’s a better playmaker where Wiggins is didn’t have that element of creativity to his game. 

It’s hard to compare the two because their college situations were so much different. Jackson is playing with argubaly the best backcourt in the country and a veteran team. Wiggins was one of three freshmen in a starting lineup that also feaured Ellis (a then Soph) and Naadir Tharpe (just a guy). Mason – the engine of this Kansas team was a backup on that one and nowhere near the type of player he is now. 

Wiggins was THE guy on that team – along with Embiid – and while that team didn’t have much tournament success, he led them to a very good regular season finish – without Embiid – when it was all on him. Jackson has been allowed to come along slowly and have off nights. Kansas couldn’t win if Wiggins had a bad night. They can without Jackson. He’s been really good lately and I don’t think people should discount the impact his teammates have had on his development this year. 

All in all, I think I’d take Jackson if I had to think about it simply because of the motor and playmaking. Wiggins has improved in his playmaking and his handle but he still settles for a lot of bad shots and his defense/rebounding have fallen off since college. Jackson might not have the scoring upside but it seems like he’s a safe bet to at least put up 18-20 points, 5-7 rebounds and 3-5 assists in his prime. 

 

 

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

I’ve seen them both at a 100% clip in terms of their time at KU (I watch literally every game) and so here is my two cents on the issue.

First of all, despite Josh Jackson’s great athleticism, and physical tools, Wiggins was still a noticeable notch above in this aspect of looking at him as a prospect. Speed, leaping, fast twitch, quickness, lateral speed, everything….Wiggins had the edge, with the only exception being strength. Josh Jackson is a wiry, strong dude. That being said, that isn’t a slight towards Jackson, but a mere nod to the freakish element of Wiggins’ athletic/physical package. Andrew had a 7′ wingspan, was a shade under 6’9” in shoes, and had a standing reach of 8’11”. Those are decent specs for a power forward despite the fact Wiggins was a 2/3. His second jump was crazy as well. Jackson isn’t left in the dust in terms of his physical/athletic package, but again, Wiggins totally gets the nod here.

When you put a basketball in their hands is when things start to get a little more interesting. I love Josh Jackson’s feel for the game. This is a kid who knows when to drive, knows when to pass, and despite Wiggins’ defensive prowess at Kansas, he NEVER was as disruptive as Josh Jackson is, with the exception of the one game he blew up West Virginia’s up tempo system in a road loss. I think a big part of this is Jackson’s motor and drive (at least defensively). At the same point in their development, Jackson is also a lot better on offense. He understands the drive and kick, he gets to the rim due to his better ball handling, and he’s / more skilled in the paint. Wiggins was the superior shooter, and really had a knack for getting to the charity stripe (where he could actually knock them down). He just didn’t bring that offensive package Jackson does, nor did he put forth the effort doing the dirty work. I think Wiggins’ freshman scoring record is in real jeopardy too, but the guy who’s gonna break it is dropping 3+ assists per game as well.

Projecting Jackson to the next level, I’m not going to say he’ll get to be a 20 ppg scorer as quick as Wiggins, but he’s gonna do more. He’s not going to be a sub 5 rebound sub 2.5 assist player while sporting a 36 mpg average like Andrew has done in his first 2.5 seasons.

Defensively Jackson is going to be more productive as well. He seems to get after it more, and defense is more often won in the trenches, than when you’re getting your wingspan measured. I doubt there will be a moment when people are wondering why Josh Jackson is averaging less than a steal per game, while tallying over 37 minutes per contest.

Crazy this is. Andrew Wiggins still has more potential. He’s a very incomplete kid dropping 23 points per game at 21 years old while playing with a bona fide 1a/1b type option in KAT. He’s got a legit 5 years before he hits his prime, and if something clicks or if he decides he wants to dial up his intensity a notch…good God. Wiggins could be really scary. His 3 point stroke isn’t far from being legit. He started off the season on a tear from downtown, and when I scouted him in college, I said his 3 pointer would be the first thing that would start to click.

Jackson will do a lot, do the dirty work, I think he has a better understanding of the game as a freshman in college, but there’s just something special about Wiggins’ athleticism, and how slow the game is for him. I think Josh Jackson will be a fine pro, I’d take the over on him becoming an NBA All-Star. He may be better than Wiggins, he may not, but Andrew has more potential, even as a 21 year old IMO.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Good takes Joe. Agreed that Wiggins has more potential still. He’s only two years older than Jackson and while his game is incomplete, he’s a good player as it is. He can get to great with a few tweaks (shot selection, intensity)

I like Jackson’s upside but I tend to agree that it isn’t as high as Wiggins’ is even now. But I’m not sure Wiggins is as sure a thing when it comes to getting to his ceiling. Feels like Jackson might be a better bet to fulfill his promise. 

Let’s say Jackson reaches his "upside" while Wiggins hits 85% of his. Which player would you rather have then? 

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

I’m definitely with you in terms of the likelihood of Wiggins to hit his ceiling, but he’s still got a crap load of upside. I’ve seen Wiggins look flat out dominant when he’s on this year. His shot is not far off, but there’s something just a little off as to why he hasn’t materialized as a defender, and how complacent he is in terms of rebounding the ball.

I think a lot of it’s mental, so I’d take Jackson because I think he’s got what it takes in terms of grit, and Basketball IQ. Jackson seems to me like the type of guy who will help you win a title, might not ever average 25 points per game, but he’s got a really nice complete package.

There have only been 15 guys 6’8” or over to average 37 minutes per game and less than 5 rebounds per contest. Wiggins is one of them, and he’s one of the most athletic guys in the league.

[kobyzParticipant]

 very different players. wiggins is more naturally gifted and talented while jackson has better intengibles, wiggins much beteer go to guy and remind me julius erving, while jackson a great third pieces guy, jackson to me is a clone of shawn marion as a player… 

[Author]

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