Kansas small forward Josh Jackson has entered the 2017 NBA draft and will keep his name in the draft pool, he announced today, per an Associated Press report (link via Kansas City Star). Jackson, who signed with B.J. Armstrong of the Wasserman Media Group, will forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility by going pro.
“[After] consulting with my family, I have decided to enter the 2017 NBA Draft and pursue my dream of playing professional basketball,” Jackson said in a statement.
A probable top-five pick, Jackson is currently ranked third overall on the big boards at DraftExpress and ESPN.com. In his first and only season with the Jayhawks, the freshman forward averaged 16.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 1.1 BPG, with a shooting line of .513/.378/.566.
According to ESPN’s Chad Ford, NBA scouts view Jackson as the best two-way player in the draft — he’s probably the only player who could challenge Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball for the No. 1 spot on big boards. However, there are questions about whether or not he can keep knocking down jump shots at the same rate he did in 2016/17. His poor free throw shooting and his tendency to turn the ball over are also red flags, but the positives certainly outweigh the negatives.
His ceiling is a ALL NBA 3rd teamer
Wiggins with passion/motor