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New York Knicks: Top 5 power forwards in 2018 NBA Draft as of early March

By Maxwell Ogden

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 24: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a play against the Syracuse Orange during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 24, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 24: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a play against the Syracuse Orange during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 24, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 03: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Isaiah Livers #4 of the Michigan Wolverines during the semifinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2018 in New York City. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Michigan State Spartans 75-64. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 03: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Isaiah Livers #4 of the Michigan Wolverines during the semifinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2018 in New York City. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Michigan State Spartans 75-64. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

Age: 18 (9/15/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’11”, 242 pounds, 7’4″
Slash Line: .520/.396/.797
Season Averages: 22.2 MPG, 11.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.4 ORPG, 1.2 APG, 3.2 BPG, 0.6 SPG, 1.2 3PM

Jaren Jackson Jr. is beginning to receive hype as one of the must-have prospects of the 2018 NBA Draft. He’s an explosive shot-blocker, a dynamic athlete who can defend multiple positions, and a lights-out three-point shooter.

If the New York Knicks somehow have an opportunity to draft Jackson, pairing him with Kristaps Porzingis would create one of the most exciting frontcourts in the NBA.

Jackson currently ranks No. 5 in the country in block percentage at 14.60—significantly higher than Mohamed Bamba‘s mark of 13.27. That’s complemented by his insane averages of 3.2 blocks per game and 5.6 blocks per 40 minutes.

Alongside Porzingis, who ranks No. 1 in the NBA in blocks per game, Jackson could help establish the most dominant defensive interior in the Association.

Offensively, Jackson is still somewhat raw as far as creating his own offense is concerned. He’s a 39.6 percent three-point shooter with a respectable average of 1.2 conversions per game, however, and an explosive athlete who has no trouble playing above the rim.

Jackson is something of a project player, but as a 3-and-D big with supreme athleticism, he would be an outstanding fit in New York with Porzingis.

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