The Josh Jackson Sweepstakes is over and he’s taking his talents to Kansas.
The 6-foot-8 small forward from Napa (CA) Prolific Prep announced for the Jayhawks over Arizona and Michigan State on Monday, ending months of suspense.
Next year I will be attending Kansas University ��❤️ #RCJH pic.twitter.com/rmBiF85n4J
– Josh Jackson (@j_josh11) April 12, 2016
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The No. 1-ranked prospect in the Class of 2016 according to 247Sports.com and the projected No. 3 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Jackson joins big man Udoka Azubuike and power forward Mitch Lightfoot in coach Bill Self’s 2016 haul.
“Josh Jackson’s intensity reminds me of a young Kevin Garnett and he has the perimeter skill set of a potential NBA All-Star,” ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla told SNY.tv.
He could end up being the latest one-and-done from Kansas, following recent products Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre, Cliff Alexander and Cheick Diallo.
In picking Kansas, Jackson spurned Michigan State — which had hoped to add the Detroit native to a loaded class that includes his friend Miles Bridges along with Cassius Winston, Josh Langford and NIck Ward.
Arizona also appeared to be the leader at one point and was looking to add Jackson to a strong class that includes guards Rawle Alkins and Kobi Simmons and power forward Lauri Markkanen could still include shooter Terrance Ferguson.
“Josh has a great upside,” USA Basketball coach Don Showalter told SNY.tv. “He can play tremendous defense. He rebounds extremely well from the perimeter and gets to the basket easily and is able to finish. His outside shot is good and it will get better as he gets more experience. He can play multiple positions as well.”
“Josh contributes in every facet of the game,” Prolific Prep coach Billy McKnight told SNY.tv. “Offensively, he’s got great feel, is a fantastic passer, is a freak in transition, and will make the SportsCenter Top 10 several times this year. I played him at the 1-4 positions this year.
“Defensively, I adjusted our scheme this year because of Josh. We literally didn’t help off other players when Josh was guarding 1-on-1. He guarded the 1-5 for us. He’s so quick off the ground. His ability to block shots and rebound will make a huge impact.
“All that said, his greatest attribute is how competitive he is. He plays to win, and that’s all there is to it. He holds his teammates to an extremely high standard. Look no further than the McDonald’s game this year. It’s no coincidence that his team was competing to win that game. That wasn’t a typical exhibition game. In the two practices leading up to that game, he made it clear he wouldn’t tolerate guys not defending. He literally changed that game.”
Jackson said at the McDonald’s All-American Game that he had made his decision in the last week and planned to announce at home.
“I’m really waiting for an opportunity where I can be home be around my family and close friends,” he said then. “I really want to [announce] around the people who have been supporting me the whole way through.”
He said then he’s just relieved that he’s no longer uncertain about the future.
“There was definitely a point in time where I was so confused about where to go to school,” Jackson said. “I was just thinking about it and it was tearing me apart, it was really stressing me out. I feel relieved and I finally know in my heart which school I want to go to.”
NThe Josh Jackson Sweepstakes is over and he’s taking his talents to Kansas.
