Menu
  • Land of 10 Home
  • Football
    • Football News
    • 2017 Schedule
  • Recruiting
    • 2018 Recruits
    • Recruiting Articles
  • Basketball
    • Basketball Articles
    • 2017 Basketball Schedule
  • Big Ten West
    • Illinois
    • Iowa
    • Minnesota
    • Nebraska
    • Northwestern
    • Purdue
    • Wisconsin
  • Big Ten East
    • Indiana
    • Maryland
    • Michigan
    • Michigan State
    • Ohio State
    • Penn State
    • Rutgers
  • Big Ten News
  • Big Ten
    • All Big Ten News
    • Illinois Fighting Illini
    • Indiana Hoosiers
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Maryland Terrapins
    • Michigan Wolverines
    • Michigan State Spartans
    • Minnesota Golden Gophers
    • Nebraska Cornhuskers
    • Northwestern Wildcats
    • Ohio State Buckeyes
    • Penn State Nittany Lions
    • Purdue Boilermakers
    • Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    • Wisconsin Badgers
  • ACC
    • All ACC News
    • Boston College Eagles
    • Clemson Tigers
    • Duke Blue Devils
    • Florida State Seminoles
    • Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
    • Louisville Cardinals
    • Miami Hurricanes
    • NC State Wolfpack
    • North Carolina Tar Heels
    • Notre Dame Fighting Irish
    • Pitt Panthers
    • Syracuse Orange
    • Virginia Cavaliers
    • Virginia Tech Hokies
    • Wake Forest Demon Deacons
  • Big 12
    • All Big 12 News
    • Baylor Bears
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • Kansas Jayhawks
    • Kansas State Wildcats
    • Oklahoma Sooners
    • Oklahoma State Cowboys
    • TCU Horned Frogs
    • Texas Longhorns
    • Texas Tech Red Raiders
    • West Virginia Mountaineers
  • Pac-12
    • All Pac-12 News
    • Arizona Wildcats
    • Arizona State Sun Devils
    • Cal Golden Bears
    • Colorado Buffaloes
    • Oregon Ducks
    • Oregon State Beavers
    • Stanford Cardinal
    • UCLA Bruins
    • USC Trojans
    • Utah Utes
    • Washington Huskies
    • Washington State Cougars
  • SEC
    • All SEC News
    • Alabama Crimson Tide
    • Arkansas Razorbacks
    • Auburn Tigers
    • Florida Gators
    • Georgia Bulldogs
    • Kentucky Wildcats
    • LSU Tigers
    • Ole Miss Rebels
    • Mississippi State Bulldogs
    • Missouri Tigers
    • South Carolina Gamecocks
    • Tennessee Volunteers
    • Texas A&M Aggies
    • Vanderbilt Commodores

Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson declares for 2018 NBA Draft

Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
Ryan Connors
Ryan Connors
@RyanConnors_
Posted 3 weeks ago

Jaren Jackson Jr. has declared for the 2018 NBA Draft, ending his career after one season at Michigan State.

The Spartans’ big man will be a lottery pick in April’s draft, so this decision was expected. Jackson is hiring an agent, meaning he is not eligible to return to college.

DEAR SPARTAN NATION…❤️ pic.twitter.com/iZaijMnfL0

— Jaren Jackson Jr. (@therealjnari_) April 2, 2018

While Jackson was expected to leave East Lansing after one season, this was his first public statement about the process since Michigan State’s season ended in a loss to Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said after the season ended that he would meet with Jackson and Jackson’s family to discuss the decision.

“I appreciate you asking the question, but no I’m not thinking about that,” Jackson told reporters after that game.

Now that he’s had some time to decide, Jackson’s decision was a straightforward one thanks to his performance this season. He’s the second MSU player to declare for the draft and hire an agent, joining Miles Bridges.

Jaren Jackson Jr. made himself a surefire lottery pick this season

Jackson was the No. 22 player in the 2017 recruiting class, per 247Sports composite rankings, when he committed to Michigan State. That ranking was eventually upped to No. 8, which more properly reflects his potential.

NBA scouts were likely salivating at Jackson’s length and size all season, and his athleticism, versatility and shooting make Jackson a complete player:

Jackson is showing NBA scouts exactly what he can contribute. He won’t need years of development as a scorer the way Bamba will; he doesn’t have any glaring weakness like Bagley on the defensive end; and he doesn’t lack the shot-blocking prowess of Ayton.

Jackson isn’t without flaws, but he’s already a competent scorer who defends better than most college players. Most of the criticisms of him entering the draft stem from playing on a team with too much talent. Aside from his lack of touches, there’s little unknown about Jackson’s game, and it feels as if we already know the player he will become. The pipe dreams of Bamba developing a consistent 3-point range, or Bagley and Ayton becoming rim protectors, will be a bit more enticing for teams willing to take risks.

There’s reason why Jackson’s labeled as the safest pick among bigs in the draft with the highest ceiling. A shot-blocking, long-armed shooter whose proved himself in a power conference on a winning team is almost certainly going to make it at the next level. It’s hard to imagine he’ll bust.

Related: Why Jaren Jackson Jr. is the safest pick of the NBA draft lottery

Don’t let Jackson’s per-game stats fool you. He’s a star.

Jackson only averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds per game in his one season at Michigan State. Those numbers aren’t exactly eye-popping, but you shouldn’t worry. Michigan State didn’t have a role for Jackson that would make him a high-volume scorer. Not with Miles Bridges and Nick Ward requiring significant time with the ball.

Jackson still shot 39 percent on 3-pointers while playing excellent defense. He still hammered down mean dunks. He’s still 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan.

Jackson also rarely, if ever, played at center this season. Ward, Gavin Schilling and Xavier Tillman occupied the 5 spot instead. Jackson could play center in the NBA if he puts some more muscle on his lanky frame to give teams fits with his shooting ability.

Jackson is exactly what the NBA is looking for in a modern big man, and that’s why he’s projected as a lottery pick.

NEXT Jaren Jackson Jr. has no timetable for NBA draft decision, per report
More from:
Basketball
  • 2018 NBA Mock Draft: Projections for first round, top players, 2018 NBA Draft order (4/19/2018)
  • 2018 NBA Draft: Order, lottery odds, positions (April 19, 2018)
  • 2018 NBA Draft Lottery: Date, odds, projections (4/19/2018)
  • Purdue’s Carsen Edwards on NBA: ‘I honestly look at it as I’m a long way from being able to be at that level’
  • Report: Ohio State basketball charged with minor recruiting violations

Share

Get the latest Michigan State News

Don't miss breaking news!
Sign up for the Land of 10 Michigan State Newsletter!

Michigan State Spartans gear at Fanatics.com

Official Partners
Get Breaking News Fast!
Download the new Land of 10 app.
Get it on the AppStore
Get it on Google Play

Latest Big Ten News

  • Big Ten
    2018 NFL Mock Draft: First-round projections, top players, o...
  • Big Ten
    2018 NFL mock draft: Projections for all rounds, 32 teams
  • Michigan
    Michigan’s European ‘antics’ a welcome dis...
  • 6 hours ago
    Minnesota
    P.J. Fleck’s wife goes after Star Tribune columnist Pa...
  • 7 hours ago
    Penn State
    Ex-Penn State WR DaeSean Hamilton believes he is the ‘...
  • 8 hours ago
    Michigan
    Jim Harbaugh on Elysee Mbem-Bosse’s threatening tweets: ...
  • 8 hours ago
    Purdue
    Purdue’s Carsen Edwards on NBA: ‘I honestly look...
  • 9 hours ago
    Ohio State
    NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: Ohio State’s Jalyn Holmes...
  • 10 hours ago
    Penn State
    Penn State recruiting: DE Jacolbe Cowan updates process; new...
  • 10 hours ago
    Nebraska
    Nebraska recruiting: Spring game visitors list; John Bivens ...

Follow Us

  • © 2018 Cox Media Group
    • About DieHards
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Visitor Agreement
    • SEC Country
    • DawgNation
    • DieHards
  • Feedback
SportsRadar logo
The Diehards Network