Kentucky Freshman Strengths: Extremely athletic, agile big man that can impact the game without scoring and has a lot of physical gifts … An active big who makes plays all over the court defensively, having averaged 2.6 blocks and .8 steals per game as a freshman … Had a block rate of 12.7 at Kentucky. Is a rangy defender, and can cover a lot of ground quickly … Is a productive on ball and help side defender … Looks to get out in transition on turnovers … Is a very good rim-runner who can outrun virtually all players at his position … has tremendous lengthh with a 7’5 wingspan … Plays above the rim … Has made progress in learning to set his defender up to drive by him … Developing face up game still needs work, but is able to use his quickness to create space … Has a quick first step on face ups that allow him to beat his man off the dribble … Explosive athlete … Extremely quick to get off the floor, and has explosive second and third jumps that gives him the advantage on rebounds …70% free throw shooting gives optimism that he can ultimately develop some reliable face up skills … Solid competitor and determination … One of the youngest players in the draft having turned 19 in January …
Weaknesses: At this point he is viewed as a project for the next level as he weighs just above 200 lbs and has not developed much of an offensive repertoire … Averaged just 8.4 ppg on a team that was in need of scoring … Post game is remedial at best, and he could stand to polish his back to the basket game with another year in college … Lacks a go to move and struggles to create offense for himself … Scores mainly on put backs and ally oops, and can knock down an occasional mid-range jump shot … Not an elite level rebounder despite his athletic gifts, largely because of lack of strength and toughness, plus poor discipline in trying to block shots he has no chance to get to … Lacks a reliable jumpshot and sometimes has poor technique and balance on his jumper … Too often gets into foul trouble that can limit both his minutes and his effectiveness … Lacks the touch around the rim that you would like from a player that gets most of their offense inside the paint … Lacks a back-to-the-basket post game. Needs to further develop his footwork both on the perimeter and in the post … While he has shown some shot blocking and defensive potential, the fact that he’s not a legit 7 footer draws into question whether his rim protecting/shot blocking ability will translate to the next level … Needs to put additional weight on, and there is some concern regarding how adding weight may affect his mobility and athleticism …
Outlook: While today’s NBA game has moved away from athletic but less skilled centers, Jackson’s long term potential as both a rim protector and shooter give him solid intrigue … Jackson projects to be an excellent defensive big that disrupts opposing offenses … He should ultimately be able to become a good pick and roll defender and should create transition opportunities … Offensively, he needs time to develop, but should be a good rim runner and pick and roll option … Over time, he could potentially develop into a pick and pop threat as well, although he will likely be more of a driving threat than a jump shooter in the pick and pop game … He has limited offensive repertoire, but proved to be a defensive game changer … Jackson is seen as a potential late first to early second round pick early in the draft process …
Notes; Native of Pontiac, MI … Announced his intentions to enter the 2021 NBA draft and will test the process before making a decision …
Eric Yearian 4/3/21
Strengths: 6’9 bouncy big man … Good length with a 7’5 wingspan … High-level athlete and gets off the ground quickly without having to gather, including quick second and third jumps. Runs the floor very well with long strides and quick for his size. Great motor … Reliable finisher. Solid touch within close, including floater and midrange shooting. Shot 55.4% FG% over the Nike EYBL in 2018 and averaged 10.9 points per game at 53.7% FG% in 2019. Shot 57.9% FG% at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018 … Good roll man in the pick & roll. Good hands and stays alert … Covers a lot of ground defensively and good help defender. Very good shot blocker with his timing, length, and athleticism. Closes out and blocks jump shooters better than many players you will find at this level. Finished 6th over the Nike EYBL with 2.5 blocks per game in 2018 and finished 4th with 2.3 blocks per game in 2019. Led the NBPA Top 100 with 2 blocks per game in 2018 … Averaged a steal per game over the Nike EYBL in 2019 … Reads opportunities for tip slams and crashes offensive glass. Averaged 2.3 offensive rebounds per game over the Nike EYBL in 2018 and 2.4 per game in 2019 …
Weaknesses: Needs work overall on developing ball skills and isn’t always heavily involved with the offense … Solid shooting form and does show hope of being able to stretch the floor but the consistency isn’t there yet. Correctly played his role in the pick & pop with LaMelo Ball throughout the season but wasn’t able to knock down the shots with consistency. Shot 20% 3PT% (1-5) at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018 and missed all three 3PT attempts in 2019. Shot 7.1% 3PT% (1-14) over the Nike EYBL in 2019 … Can improve as a free throw shooter. Shot 60.6% FT% over the Nike EYBL in 2018 and 60.7% FT% in 2019 … Can expand post-game and half-court offense. A lot of his scoring comes from rim running … Has a slight frame and very thin lower body, lacks strength … Needs to stay out of foul trouble. Saw limited minutes in a few of Spire’s games due to picking up fouls early. Bites on pump fakes and tries to block shots that he should look to contest … Despite his tools and standing out as an offensive rebounder, he doesn’t separate himself like you would think as a rebounder overall. Averaged 6.3 rebounds per game over the Nike EYBL in 2018 and 6 per game in 2019 …
Outlook: Transferring to Waterford Mott for his senior year … Named to The Grind Session Second Team in 2019 …
Evan Tomes 12/12/19
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