I think Josh should be considered for the Number 1 pick and at worst should fall to number 3. Jackson is a smooth, versatile athlete with a diverse skill set, but plays hard with the motor of scrappy role player. 

Josh is good at so many things, it’s hard to pick out what he’ll be best at on the next level. I had a chance to watch him play a few times in AAU and high school and I’ve seen him have a huge impact on games without scoring. He simply makes winning plays and wants to win more than any other player on the floor.

Jackson’s versatility is what sets him apart from other prospects. He’s a playmaker with the court vision of guard but attacks the offensive glass like a power forward. He has an excellent feel for the game and is a good ball handler at 6’8” which may help him play up to 4 position in the NBA. 

Josh’s attitude and toughness is probably my favorite attribute. When he puts that jersey on you know you’re getting maximum effort and he’s a DAWG on the floor. If matched up against a smaller guard he’ll punish him on the block then make the right pass if a double team comes. Josh is an excellent rebounder from the wing, especially on the offensive glass. He must be boxed out at all times. His combination of athleticism, great timing, quick second jump, will and effort makes him a threat for offensive rebound dunks on nearly every possession.

I wouldn’t call him a great one on one player but he’s a great team player. He’s best when he has the ball on the move where he can either score or create for a teammate. Jackson has a funky hitch in his shot with a low release but he knows how to create space to get his shot off over defender. If there’s any daylight to the rim he’s looking to embarrass anyone who challenges him at the rim.

If there was a weakness in his game it would be his shooting. He’s a streak shooter that got off to a slow start shooting his freshman season but had a stretch of games where he shot over 50% from 3. Like most prospects Josh obviously needs to get stronger which contributes to a lot of his off balance shots. He has a tendency to get his shot blocked and stripped down low. Another bad habit is he leaves the floor too often on his passes.

With all the skills and versatility Josh brings to the table on offensive, he may be at his best on the defensive end of the floor. He’s an terror in the passing lanes and in an instant can turn a bad pass into a momentum changing dunk. He has the athletic ability and length to defend point guards and even some 4’s in a small ball lineup..

Overall, I think Josh has the potential to be an NBA All Star and be a regular on the All Defensive team who is a smaller version of Draymond Green. I would love to see him on a team like Phoenix.

RAFAEL BARLOWE MARCH 22, 2017

 Jackson is playing with confidence right now and is making his case for the #1 pick. 

In two games, he’s done a little bit of everything. His activity off ball has generated easy looks on lobs and put backs. He’s shooting 50% on jump shots and shown some creativity off the bounce in his pull up game. A little erratic on the break with a couple turnovers and some missed finishes due to being a bit out of control; did have a nice lefty scoop shot though.  Asserted himself more in the second half of the Michigan State game, creating in iso and attacking closeouts off the dribble. On defense, he’s been good and bad. The good is his effort, his on ball defense and defending PNR ball handlers. He stays with the play, fights through screens and forces players into tough shots. He’s been a bad off ball defender, particularly vs players on the wing. He’s actually been pretty good switching and rotating to bigs near the rim but that’s because he’s in the area. He has to cover a lot of ground to closeout on spot up shooters and bigs in PNPs and they’ve taken advantage of the extra second to go 6 for 9 on jumpshots and 3 for 4 from 3. 

KHAIRI AKILI - MARCH 20, 2017