2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is Frank Jackson?

Duke point guard Frank Jackson got lost a bit in the shuffle of Duke’s crowded backcourt. He clearly has the scoring ability and athleticism to grow.

Playing for the Duke Blue Devils can get a little crowded.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski seemingly has his pick of college prospects and comes into every year with a loaded roster of potential NBA studs scouts are itching to see. Unlike other coaches, Krzyzewski also is able to hold some talented upperclassmen. That made it difficult to fit freshman players like Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles and Frank Jackson.

Tatum eventually found his footing and became one of Duke’s best players. His play has him slated to go in the top 10 at the very least and the top three at the very best.

Giles never quite found his footing. He was still recovering from an injury and struggled to get his footing after coming in as the nation’s top recruit.

Guard Frank Jackson was somewhere in the middle.

He showed plenty of signs of becoming a strong player. But he also got lost in the crowd with Tatum, Luke Kennard, Grayson Allen and Amile Jefferson in the lineup. Jackson became the fifth man in the lineup.

That obviously hurt his numbers — 10.9 points per game and 1.7 assists per game — but he still found a way to make an impact. He had his moments and raised plenty of intrigue for the NBA Draft.

Jackson is a dynamic athlete with good length at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds. He can work his way to the basket and score above the basket. There is plenty of raw talent to work with.

But Jackson is far from perfect. He is not the great 3-point shooter a team would like for a shooting guard — 39.2 percent — and he does not have great size. Without a strong passing game, it is unclear where a team would play him.

And that does not get into the foot injury Jackson suffered shortly after the NBA Draft Combine that has kept him from working out for anyone.

There is a little bit of mystery about him, which explains why he is on the borderline of the first round. But Jackson has plenty to intrigue.