MAC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

6. Loren Jackson

A 5’8 point guard from Chicago, Jackson chose the West Coast, but that wasn’t where he’d experience his collegiate success. He began his career in 2016 at Long Beach State but stayed just a single year out there, deciding to transfer. He’d land with John Groce at Akron and had three very good years as the Zips’ point guard between 2018 and 2021.

He already showed his talent and potential in year one with Akron, averaging 13.9 points and 3.1 assists. He took another step forward as a junior, up to 19.8 points a game including 43% from outside the arc. Jackson also led the Zips to the MAC regular season title, though the postseason was cancelled by the pandemic. As a senior, he had another brilliant year, averaging 22.3 points and 6.1 assists a game, establishing himself as one of the best point guards in the entire nation.

Jackson earned First Team All-MAC honors for those last two years in Akron and was actually the conference’s Player of the Year as a junior. He had impressive offensive numbers, leading the conference in free throw and 3-point shooting in that junior year before finishing 5th in the nation in points per game as a senior. His assist numbers were also exceptional; Jackson really fit in well with Groce’s program.