Kansas Basketball: Josh Jackson fills the Jayhawks’ biggest need
Josh Jackson fills a major need for Kansas Basketball and may be the most hyped Jayhawks recruit since Andrew Wiggins.
Tons of college basketball fans found themselves continually refreshing their Twitter feeds at about 8:30 p.m. on Monday night.
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Josh Jackson, the nation’s number-three recruit for next season, was slated to announce where he would play his college basketball next season.
Jackson, a 6’7″ forward, was picking between the Kansas Jayhawks, Michigan State Spartans, and Arizona Wildcats.
Finally, the tweet everyone was waiting for came through.
Jackson didn’t decide to stay home. He didn’t decide to take his talents to Arizona to play with Kobi Simmons and Rawle Alkins. Instead, he chose Kansas and Bill Self.
Jackson greatly helps a Jayhawk team that was badly in need of a wing player for next season after losing both Wayne Selden and Brannen Greene to the draft. Jackson figures to slide right into Selden’s spot in the starting lineup at the three, though, junior Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk might give him a run for his money for that spot.
Mykhailiuk and Jackson are two very different players. Mykhaiuliuk is primarily a shooter, having shot over 40 percent from three last season, and Jackson is much more of a slasher.
Jackson appears, at least on the surface, to be exactly what the Jayhawks need for next season. They’ll miss Selden’s three-point shooting ability, but not his inconsistency. Jackson has tremendous potential defensively, and having him on the perimeter will surely shore up the Jayhawks’ shortcomings.
Just imagine a defensive backcourt consisting of Jackson, Frank Mason II and Devonte’ Graham.
"Amazing potential defensively. Can guard up to four positions. Great lateral quickness. Plays with a very high motor. Great instincts and anticipation skills in passing lanes. 3.3 steals per -40. Also blocks shots regularly, 1.4 per-40.—Jonathan Givony"
Jackson’s ability to get steals is something that should be a major key for the Jayhawks next season, who forced just under 13 turnovers per game last season, 141st in the country.
Givony also pointed out how Jackson is adept at scoring without having plays called for him, which is going to be huge when he plays with Mason and Graham. So much of the attention is going to be on those two, and that should leave Jackson with plenty of points to be had via backdoor cuts and alley-oops.
As for his weaknesses, Givony notes his poor shooting stroke (he’s just a 57 percent free throw shooter in his career), but that’s something that shouldn’t be too much of a problem with guys like Mason and Graham in the backcourt, and Myhailiuk backing him up. Not to mention Carlton Bragg, who figures to be the starting power forward, has three-point range as well.
The good thing here is that the Jayhawks don’t need to rely on Jackson to be a great team next season. Cliff Alexander, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Josh Selby are all guys that came into KU with massive expectations and tons of pressure on their shoulders. But this year, Kansas returns plenty of talent where Jackson doesn’t need to be a superstar, unlike the other three players I listed.
If Jackson can contribute 12 points per game on decent percentages, with great defense, he would take Kansas to a whole new level.
It should be another fun season in Lawrence.