Recruiting Report: Jaren Jackson Jr. (2017)
When thinking of the best possible basketball prospect, adding in his background, education, personality, everything, if you could start with Jaren Jackson Jr. you would probably be doing yourself a favor. The 6’10 forward from Park Tudor checks the marks…
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Continue ReadingWhen thinking of the best possible basketball prospect, adding in his background, education, personality, everything, if you could start with Jaren Jackson Jr. you would probably be doing yourself a favor. The 6’10 forward from Park Tudor checks the marks in a lot of boxes for college coaches. He’s a great kid with a pedigree and a dad that hails from the NBA. He goes to a high-education school in Park Tudor and so far in his high school career all he has done is win State Championships.
Jackson, our #3 prospect in the Prep Hoops Indiana 2017 rankings, is being watched by nearly every local program. Purdue, Indiana, Butler, Notre Dame, they all have checked in on him and all have offered. Jaren might not be considered a national recruit just yet but he does have offers from Georgetown, Michigan State, and Maryland. Vanderbilt has also been in to see him as recently as this past Saturday.
The best thing about Jaren’s game and the thing that has been drawing in coaches from across the country is his ability to stretch the floor. He’s an adept shooter from distance for his size and fits the mold of a college level stretch-four. He’s got the handles to his game that allow him to play on the perimeter but also his defensive abilities, they allow him to be a difference-maker in the post.
“I think, mostly I’ll be like a stretch-four,” Jackson said about his game. “With my ball handling I’ll be able to stretch the defense and mismatches can be created with my offensively ability. My defensively ability, my shot blocking, keeps me inside. I trying to get better with my on-ball defense but help-side defense I’m pretty good at.”
Jaren has been groomed from a young age to be a versatile player. His dad, a standout at Georgetown and played 13 seasons in the NBA, has helped to get him ready for the college game and beyond. Jaren says “he works me out in all areas, so we get in the gym and do every single drill.” It has helped as he’s having his biggest season yet. In four games this year, Jaren is averaging 17.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5 blocks. He’s a difference-maker.
Jackson says he doesn’t have any plans to take visits during the season. He’s focused. That is the kind of player he is. He’s had a lot of schools in to see him this season already, though. Dane Fife from Michigan State, Matt Painter of Purdue, and Derrick Jones of Vanderbilt are just a few of the names that have watched so far this year. It’s going to be a process, a methodical one, for Jaren and it is really only just starting but he’s one that coaches will wait on.