Mr. Basketball Candidate: Markese Jacobs
In this series we take a look at the potential candidates for Mr. Basketball in the state of Illinois for this upcoming season. Here we profile Uplift 2019 point guard Markese Jacobs.
Profile:
Uplift 2019 point guard Markese Jacobs was the first player to make his college commitment in the junior class as he committed to Kansas almost a year ago. He is a compact and dynamic lead guard with great athleticism and the ability to score at the rim. Great in transition with the ball in his hands pushing the pace.
Odds to Win:
20/1
Why He Can Win:
Jacobs is one of the most well-known names in the Chicago area. He has the “Kansas” brand recognition behind him. Committing to a blue blood program as a sophomore gives him star power and someone voters will know. He won’t have to split the scoring load with his brother this year so he should put up monster scoring games at Uplift consistently with an exciting brand of basketball. He is a fun player to watch and someone that fans along with voters will enjoy seeing play.
Obstacles to Win:
Uplift lost quite a bit from their team last year. They still have Marquise and Toraze Dobbs, but his complimentary players will have to step up in order for Jacobs to have a legit shot at the award by racking up wins in the Public League. Another factor could be will some voters hold it against him that he left temporarily to go to prep school in Arizona? This shouldn’t be too major of a factor. Once again you have the fact that rarely this award goes to a non-senior as well.