While some Kansas basketball fans still might have been reeling Wednesday night from three consecutive days [of KU underclassmen declaring for the NBA Draft][1], at least one future Jayhawk — and perhaps more — took the court in Chicago for the annual high school all-star showcase, the McDonald’s All-American Game.
Bill Self knows 6-foot-11 center Udoka Azubuike, [who put up nine points and pulled down eight rebounds in 15 minutes for the East team][2], will be in a Kansas uniform next season.
The coach hopes [6-foot-7 swingman Josh Jackson][3] will join Azubuike and the rest of the Jayhawks in the pursuit of KU’s 13th consecutive Big 12 championship.
Jackson earned co-MVP honors after contributing 19 points, four rebounds and three assists in a winning cause for the West all-stars.
A freak athlete with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Jackson, said to be considering Kansas, Michigan State and Arizona, projects as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, according to [DraftExpress.com][4], which lists some of the 19-year-old’s strengths as:
– Flies all over the court
– Amazing potential defensively, with great lateral quickness and high motor
– Excellent wing rebounder, especially on offensive glass
– Finds ways to score without plays being called for him
*([See the complete list, as well as some of Jackson’s notable weaknesses][5] at his DraftExpress profile).*
The McDonald’s game, as you might imagine, really only showcased Jackson’s strengths. I mean, when was the last time you watched a basketball all-star game in which anyone played defense for a prolonged stretch?
Still, Jackson’s talent jumped off the screen — watch his highlights in the video below.
Jackson, who made 9 of his 11 shot attempts in the all-star game, handles the ball well and can get into the paint.
What’s more, he’s a willing passer, who both knows how to move without the ball and uses dribble-drives to create open shots for teammates.
Jackson takes off for fast-break dunks and offensive rebounds with explosiveness, existing above the rim much of the time he plays.
He even shows his ability to hit corner 3-pointers — an increasingly important skill in the NBA. Jackson can also handle the ball on the break off a defensive rebound and find another elite athlete for an alley-oop.
As talented as he is scoring the ball, his passing is on point, too. Plus — can you believe it? — he even played some defense, blocking a shot, then securing a defensive board.
It’s easy to see why Self, Tom Izzo and Sean Miller want to add a wing with that array of talents — even if he will undoubtedly only be on campus for one year.
Oh, one more thing, did we mention Jackson is athletic?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOMlQ1KZBuY
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2016/mar/31/jayhawks-greene-declares-nba-draft/
[2]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2016/mar/31/ku-target-jackson-excels-mcdonalds-game/
[3]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2016/mar/30/tom-keegan-selden-partin-means-jackson-good-fit/
[4]: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Josh-Jackson-7239/
[5]: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Josh-Jackson-7239/
