Who else is in the running?
Indiana: The Hoosiers will host the home state kid on Sept. 28. IU is the unquestioned leader heading into Jackson-Davis tour. And for good reason. The Hoosiers have made him a priority for awhile. And while TJD may not be the Hoosiers top priority, he is easily No. 2 if not 1A.
Jackson-Davis has visited with coach Archie Miller several times within the past year. This includes an in-home visit on Aug. 5. Here is what TJD told Indiana Sports Coverage following returning from an unofficial visit to Bloomington last August.
"“The visit was a really good experience. I got to meet some of the players, and they were all really cool. The atmosphere at the football game was crazy. I was able to go on the field before the game, and that was also a really cool experience. It was all around a good time. The open gym was a lot of fun. It was cool to see where I rank myself against the players on the team.”"
IU is only expected to have two scholarships available in 2019 after Archie Miller brought in six players in 2018. The Hoosiers, who have not received any commitments for 2019, has 10 open offers including a few to their other top targets including Isaiah Stewart, Trendon Watford, Keion Brooks and Brandon Newman. Watford is the only player not from the state of Indiana.
Michigan State: MSU will receive the last official visit from Jackson-Davis on Oct. 5. The Spartans have four scholarships available in 2019, though that depends on many things including whether seniorKyle Ahrens seeks a fifth-season.
The Spartans are very interested in Jackson-Davis. And MSU could use some help in the frontcourt next year, but they seem to be more interested in consensus top-5 recruit Vern Carey and Stewart. The Spartans are also seriously flirting with 6-foot-9 four-star center Drew Timme (Richardson, TX) and 6-foot-7 Malik Hall.
Purdue: While the Boilermakers won’t receive an official visit, TJD will make a trip to Purdue’s campus on Nov. 3. Coach Matt Painter seemingly has been very particular to whom the Boilermakers offer a scholarship to in 2019. Already securing commitments from two players in the class of 2019, the Boilermakers currently project to have just one more scholarship available.
Still, Jackson-Davis is a high priority for Purdue. The Boilermakers could use some added depth in the frontcourt. 6-foot-10 four-star center Zeke Nnaji (Hopkins, MN), four-star 6-foot-4 shooting guard Armaan Franklin and Hall are also on Purdue’s top-priority list.
My analysis
I agree that IU is the favorite for Jackson-Davis. But I could see him going elsewhere, if the Hoosier secure a commitment from Stewart. Iowa is probably a very distant second to get a commitment from TJD and mainly as a result of his relationship with Patrick McCaffery. I believe Purdue is third, followed by MSU, Wake Forest and then UCLA.