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2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is Josh Jackson?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 24, 2017; Morgantown, WV, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Josh Jackson (11) drives towards the basket during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; Morgantown, WV, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Josh Jackson (11) drives towards the basket during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Good

Josh Jackson’s freshman year statistics jump off the page. He averaged 16.3 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game, showing a strong amount of versatility. He was able to score in a number of different ways too.

Jackson worked well in the mid-range game, could attack the basket, could cut off the ball and occasionally hit the 3-pointer. He always found a way to stay involved even considering some of his weaknesses on the floor.

That is what stood out most about him — what he did when he did not have the ball. Or, at least, that is what always stood out to me.

Jackson is not a good 3-point shooter — 37.8 percent — or at least not a reliable one. Teams were perfectly happy playing off him on the perimeter to try to collapse the paint. But Jackson has incredible basketball intelligence. He knew just the right moment to cut to the basket or make himself available for a pass around the basket.

That innate skill helps him with rebounds too. He is a slender 6-foot-8 and played a lot of power forward in college, but he was able to hold his own. Rebounding typically translates and his rebounding numbers were solid for someone who should play on the perimeter most of the time.

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Jackson’s real strength is not on the offensive end, although he is a fully capable offensive player. His real strength is on defense.

At Kansas, he showed plenty of quickness and length to be a defensive stopper. According to Sports-Reference, Jackson posted a +5.7 defensive box plus-minus. At the NBA level, he projects as a solid defender at either forward position.

Jackson just does not have a lot of flaws to his game. And he covers up whatever flaws he has exceedingly well.

He has the athleticism and length to defend anywhere. He can also use that athleticism to attack off the dribble. He was able to get past defenders and get to the basket. And Jackson had a tendency to hit big shots. He was a very solid player in so many ways.

That high talent level and his general basketball IQ makes him one of the most prized prospects in this Draft.