Recruiting Report: Jackson Brannan (2018)
After watching Ankeny Centennial 6-foot-2 guard Jackson Brannan blow by his guy and rise up for a slam at our Top 250 Expo last month, it became clear that he was one of the state’s more promising prospects.
He pairs great leaping ability with an increasingly developed skill-set, and some Midwest D3s and NAIAs are taking notice.
“Right now, it’s Wartburg, Simpson, Midland, and a little bit (of recruitment) from Mount Mercy,” said Brannan.
“Really, my recruitment goal is to maybe get an NAIA offer, or maybe go to a JuCo and then go to a D2, eventually.”
Currently Iowa’s 100th-ranked 2018, Brannan will be due for a bump in the coming new rankings. He defined his specific set of skills to PHIA.
“My strength is my versatility, being able to do everything for the team, like rebounding and passing. And what I’ve been working on this summer was my defense,” said Brannan.
“For Centennial to be successful this season, we’re going to need a lockdown defender, and that’s what Coach (Bob) Fontana really wanted me to work on.”
He added: “And I can use my athleticism to burn people and get to the rim, and I can use it to get up and go get and-ones.”
This spring and summer, Brannan was playing with some of his Centennial teammates on Team Iowa 17U.
He’s pleased with how things went, and gained confidence in his jumper.
“We had Hunter Strait and Carter Bachman, two guys from Centennial. And it being my first season there, they kind of just welcomed me in, and I felt like I was right at home,” said Brannan.
“They really encouraged me to shoot it, and that was big. It gave me that confidence boost, like if I shoot it, it’s going to go in. Also, my defense was good, rebounding was pretty solid, and my defense was good, especially against Oakland Soldiers down in Kansas City.”
After averaging 4.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game last season as a junior for the Jaguars, Brannan is in-line to make some major contributions this winter.
“My goal for this winter would be to make it to The Well,” he said. “And I’m looking to be an all-around player for my team, maybe average 10 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds and a couple steals and blocks.”