With the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament underway, Thunder fans should keep an eye on North Carolina’s Justin Jackson.
Justin Jackson is an interesting player both on and off the floor; his rise to stardom at North Carolina comes with an unusual backstory.
Throughout his education career Jackson was homeschooled, which made him eligible to play his high school basketball for the Homeschool Christian Youth Association (HCYA). This association is a nonprofit Christian service that serves home school families and children in the Houston, Texas area.
Jackson was a crucial factor in the team’s 2012 national championship run, and quickly became one of nation’s most coveted recruits. In 2014, Jackson was named to the McDonald’s All-America game, taking home co-MVP honors after scoring a game-high 23 points on 11-12 shooting.
The five-star recruit chose North Carolina, the school he grew a love for at an early age. From the moment he arrived on campus, Jackson made his presence known.
During the 2014-2015 season, Jackson was selected to First Team ACC All-Freshman team. As a sophomore, Jackson helped lead the Tar Heels to the Final Four.
The Tar Heels suffered a heartbreaking loss to Villanova in the NCAA Championship. With a chance to declare for the NBA Draft, Jackson had to figure out what path he wanted to follow.
He decided that there was still unfinished business for him in Chapel Hill.
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With the goal of bringing a championship back to North Carolina, Jackson decided to return for his junior season. North Carolina is primed to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, and Jackson will be a big factor in how far they ultimately go.
Want to read more about Jackson’s love for the University of North Carolina? Jackson wrote an article for The Players’ Tribune, which talks about his time in Chapel Hill and his desire to win a championship.
So, why is Justin Jackson considered a highly touted prospect?
For starters, the 6’8 forward is very versatile. He is very good at getting to the basket, as he uses his size as a strength to get good looks near the rim.
One of the most improved areas of his game comes from behind the three-point line. After shooting under 30% from beyond-the-arc as a sophomore, Jackson is shooting 37% from three this season. This dramatic improvement is another reason why Jackson’s draft stock has recently risen.
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Over his collegiate career, Jackson has also shown the ability to work on his weaknesses to improve his overall game. With a high basketball IQ and big game experience, Jackson has shown great improvement this season, and definitely has room to keep improving in the future.
For the Thunder, drafting Jackson would make a ton of sense.
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Adding Jackson into the mix adds a player with ability to score from anywhere on the floor. Having stayed at UNC for an extra season Jackson was considered their primary scoring option, which gave him a chance to improve his offensive game.
With the Thunder, Jackson wouldn’t have to be the “main guy,” which could suit him well. Jackson wasn’t the main offensive option in Chapel Hill until this season, but never complained. He’s more than willing to put his ego aside to do whatever it takes to help his team be successful.
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Along with being an offensive threat, Jackson is a very athletic player. For a team full of young talent, adding a forward with Jackson’s athleticism would help on both sides of the ball. A playmaker with his size and ability is sometimes difficult to find.
And let’s face it: who doesn’t want a player with a winning tradition?
Jackson has had great success during both his high school and college career. The Thunder are a young team with title aspirations, so adding his winning attitude could have a positive impact.
If you’re watching any of the NCAA Tournament over the next couple of weeks, take some time to watch Justin Jackson play. North Carolina could find themselves in the National Championship game once again if Jackson continues to plays at a high level.