Justin Jackson, North Carolina Tar Heels
Position: Small Forward
Age: 22 (3/25/1995)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’8.25″, 193 pounds, 6’10.75″
2016-17 Slash Line: .448/.383/.743
2016-17 Season Averages: 31.5 MPG, 18.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.7 3PM
Justin Jackson has led the North Carolina Tar Heels to the Elite Eight by taking over as both a scorer and a facilitator. It’s been a pleasant development from a player who intrigued the masses with his untapped potential.
If the New York Knicks were to somehow acquire a second lottery pick in the 2017 NBA Drat, then Jackson would be an intriguing player to target.
Jackson stuffed the stat sheet with 24 points, five rebounds, and five assists in 34 minutes during the 94-80 victory over the Butler Bulldogs. He shot 9-of-18 from the field, made a pair of 3-point field goals, and converted four free throws.
It was Jackson’s second consecutive game with at least five assists, as well as his third straight outing with at least five rebounds.
Jackson’s development into a 3-point marksman has opened up avenues for the rest of his game to flourish. He’s driving with relative ease due to the fear he strikes defenders as a shooter, and has capitalized on those opportunities as a scorer and facilitator.
Jackson was heralded as a potential lottery pick entering his freshman season, and as a junior, he’s finally realizing his potential.