Jaren Jackson Jr.

[Chi town]

JJJ is at #2 on my board behind Luka.

I like his D better than Bamba. Rim protects and defends PnRs. His length let’s him switch onto guards and keep them in front.

He’s the youngest player in the draft.

I see an 18yr old KG. Imagine KG in this era of small ball at the 5.

[Duke4life831]

I have Jackson ranked roughly the same as I had Isaac last year. If we remember last time around this year, Isaac was receiving a ton of praise on here and many people thought he was going to be a top 5 pick.

I actually liked Isaac a little more than I like Jackson at the moment. I think Isaac is the more versatile defender while I think both are going to be pretty limited as scorers on the offensive end.

[No-Man]

I have Jackson ranked roughly the same as I had Isaac last year. If we remember last time around this year, Isaac was receiving a ton of praise on here and many people thought he was going to be a top 5 pick.

I actually liked Isaac a little more than I like Jackson at the moment. I think Isaac is the more versatile defender while I think both are going to be pretty limited as scorers on the offensive end.

Agreed, I had Isaac 5th and I have triple J 5th too (behind Doncic, Porter, Trae and Bagley), but I like Jaren more than Isaac honestly.

[Duke4life831]

I have Jackson ranked roughly the same as I had Isaac last year. If we remember last time around this year, Isaac was receiving a ton of praise on here and many people thought he was going to be a top 5 pick.

I actually liked Isaac a little more than I like Jackson at the moment. I think Isaac is the more versatile defender while I think both are going to be pretty limited as scorers on the offensive end.

Agreed, I had Isaac 5th and I have triple J 5th too (behind Doncic, Porter, Trae and Bagley), but I like Jaren more than Isaac honestly.

Ya I can definitely see having him over Isaac. I just think they're similar prospects and it wasn't around this time last year when Isaac's hype got the highest just like Jackson's right now.

[The-Power]

I have Jackson ranked roughly the same as I had Isaac last year. If we remember last time around this year, Isaac was receiving a ton of praise on here and many people thought he was going to be a top 5 pick.

I actually liked Isaac a little more than I like Jackson at the moment. I think Isaac is the more versatile defender while I think both are going to be pretty limited as scorers on the offensive end.

Jackson, however, is clearly bigger and longer than Isaac; has a better frame and is stronger, a much better rim protector, has a more reliable set-shot, is much better around the rim due to his strength and not even clearly behind Isaac in terms of ball handling. Isaac has shown more of midrange pull-up (but that wasn't a big part of his game) and a bit more in terms of perimeter defense.

I was quite high on Isaac last year (ranked him 6th/7th) but there's no doubt in my mind that Jackson is in a different tier as a prospect. Isaac never shown the dominance of Jackson has recently on either end of the floor, nor does he have the same type of upside. Your analysis appears to be way too superficial if you reduce them to defensive versatility and scoring limitations – not to mention that even these extremely narrow categories, as they compare the two players, is very questionable.

I mean, just take a look at Jackson's scoring volume and efficiency in conference play for instance – it's clearly premature to put such a lable on him as a scorer at this age and stage of development. And as a defender, Jackson is more versatile than Isaac in my opinion when we consider help defense, classic rim protection, perimeter defense, post defense, defensive rotations and defensive rebounding. But even if he wasn't more versatile it doesn't mean much; his huge advantages around the rim are obvious and they make him a more impactful defender in college and I don't see a reason why he wouldn't project to be a better defender in the NBA.

I don't see any reason to put him in a lower tier than Bagley and Ayton; quite the opposite actually, it's easier to make a case for Jackson to be ranked higher than Bagley and Ayton than it is the other way around – at least for me. But we'll have to wait and see, nobody knows with any kind of certainty whose opinion is going to turn out to be closer to the truth a couple years down the road.

[Chi town]

I have Jackson ranked roughly the same as I had Isaac last year. If we remember last time around this year, Isaac was receiving a ton of praise on here and many people thought he was going to be a top 5 pick.

I actually liked Isaac a little more than I like Jackson at the moment. I think Isaac is the more versatile defender while I think both are going to be pretty limited as scorers on the offensive end.

Jackson, however, is clearly bigger and longer than Isaac; has a better frame and is stronger, a much better rim protector, has a more reliable set-shot, is much better around the rim due to his strength and not even clearly behind Isaac in terms of ball handling. Isaac has shown more of midrange pull-up (but that wasn't a big part of his game) and a bit more in terms of perimeter defense.

I was quite high on Isaac last year (ranked him 6th/7th) but there's no doubt in my mind that Jackson is in a different tier as a prospect. Isaac never shown the dominance of Jackson has recently on either end of the floor, nor does he have the same type of upside. Your analysis appears to be way too superficial if you reduce them to defensive versatility and scoring limitations – not to mention that even these extremely narrow categories, as they compare the two players, is very questionable.

I mean, just take a look at Jackson's scoring volume and efficiency in conference play for instance – it's clearly premature to put such a lable on him as a scorer at this age and stage of development. And as a defender, Jackson is more versatile than Isaac in my opinion when we consider help defense, classic rim protection, perimeter defense, post defense, defensive rotations and defensive rebounding. But even if he wasn't more versatile it doesn't mean much; his huge advantages around the rim are obvious and they make him a more impactful defender in college and I don't see a reason why he wouldn't project to be a better defender in the NBA.

I don't see any reason to put him in a lower tier than Bagley and Ayton; quite the opposite actually, it's easier to make a case for Jackson to be ranked higher than Bagley and Ayton than it is the other way around – at least for me. But we'll have to wait and see, nobody knows with any kind of certainty whose opinion is going to turn out to be closer to the truth a couple years down the road.

Well said. I see a young KG. State does t give him the ball. Reminds me of Markannen last year at Zona.

[logical_art]

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[GameBredAPBT]

He is a spectacle. If he puts it all together, he's a generational type guy.

This draft is bananas.

[LunchBox21]

Jaren Jackson is special. Did anyone catch that game vs Indiana last night? 6 blocks in the first half and only 7 for the game because in the second half Indiana stopped challenging him. He's far from a finished product, too. Izzo had a couple teaching moments for him last night and he responded very well. He's the youngest player in the draft if I recall correctly.

Ayton gets the comps, but it's Jackson's numbers who actually resemble freshman Embiid's. Only thing is we haven't seen Jackson executing a perfect dreamshake. By the end of the year, I'll have Jackson over Ayton with the rate that he's improving on offense.

[Chi town]

Jaren Jackson is special. Did anyone catch that game vs Indiana last night? 6 blocks in the first half and only 7 for the game because in the second half Indiana stopped challenging him. He's far from a finished product, too. Izzo had a couple teaching moments for him last night and he responded very well. He's the youngest player in the draft if I recall correctly.

Ayton gets the comps, but it's Jackson's numbers who actually resemble freshman Embiid's. Only thing is we haven't seen Jackson executing a perfect dreamshake. By the end of the year, I'll have Jackson over Ayton with the rate that he's improving on offense.

I did. He’s the real deal.

Luka
JJJ
Young
Ayton

[logical_art]

I still can't get over how unexplosive he appears. Maybe with his length it doesn't matter, but he barely elevates on dunks.

[Mulhollanddrive]

I like his tools but I'm not sure how he becomes better than Ibaka who has never been an All-Star.

[Ruzious]

Jaren Jackson is special. Did anyone catch that game vs Indiana last night? 6 blocks in the first half and only 7 for the game because in the second half Indiana stopped challenging him. He's far from a finished product, too. Izzo had a couple teaching moments for him last night and he responded very well. He's the youngest player in the draft if I recall correctly.

Ayton gets the comps, but it's Jackson's numbers who actually resemble freshman Embiid's. Only thing is we haven't seen Jackson executing a perfect dreamshake. By the end of the year, I'll have Jackson over Ayton with the rate that he's improving on offense.

Yes on the Indiana game, and notice how Indiana changed their offensive approach when he was out of the game. His presence dictated what Indiana tried to do. But yeah, Coach was still giving him a tounge-lashing on the sidelines. That was when it showed - JJJ's still an 18 year old kid who still has some growing up to do - just like any other 18 year old - and he's probably got the right coach to help him mature.

[TheSuzerain]

I like his tools but I'm not sure how he becomes better than Ibaka who has never been an All-Star.

If he can combine vet Ibaka's 3ball with young Ibaka's defensive disruption, then that would be a fantastic piece.

Jaren has also shown some intriguing ability to attack a close-out. I'm not sure if Ibaka ever had that in his game.

[yoyoboy]

I like his tools but I'm not sure how he becomes better than Ibaka who has never been an All-Star.

If he can combine vet Ibaka's 3ball with young Ibaka's defensive disruption, then that would be a fantastic piece.

Jaren has also shown some intriguing ability to attack a close-out. I'm not sure if Ibaka ever had that in his game.

Additionally, JJJ won't even be 19 until December. He has a ton of room to grow. He has a standing reach of 9'1, 1 inch more than Anthony Davis, his Block % is higher than AD, Bamba, and Noel were, he's the anchor of the 9th/351 defense by DRTG in the country on a Michigan State team that ranked 121st last season, and he has advanced instincts and awareness on that end at such a young age already. I think Izzo has done a great job coaching him. He should be a great PnR and switch defender due to his agility and length.

Moving on the offensive end, he's seen as really raw on that end and yet he's shooting 43% from three and 79% from the line, so he projects to be a great shooter at the NBA level. And if you watch him, he's spotting up, he's coming off of pin downs, and he's pick and popping. He has the athleticism and length to finish at the rim and he has the handles and footspeed to drive from the perimeter and attack closeouts impressively for a big. He rarely ever tries to do too much either.

He really does look the ideal modern big to me and I've got him number 2 behind Doncic on my big board.

[han320]

If the season ends today, JJJ would become the 3rd player in NCAA history to average +5 OBPM and +10 DBPM. The other two? Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns.

http://cbbref.com/tiny/dQNtg

[SeattleJazzFan]

Jaren Jackson is sickening. if you didn't see him tonight, at least check out the highlights. crazy - sometimes they simply don't go to him or he gets in foul trouble and doesn't do anything - tonight they found him. yikes. such an incredible talent. tonight i saw a guy worthy of #1 overall. not saying i'd take him there, but damn.

[Ruzious]

If the season ends today, JJJ would become the 3rd player in NCAA history to average +5 OBPM and +10 DBPM. The other two? Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns.

http://cbbref.com/tiny/dQNtg

That's pretty amazing company, and tonight... Miles Bridges has his worst game of the season, but Michigan State wins 87-57 - though it was against a bad Minnesota team. JJJ made 5 of 8... 3's, got 27 points, 6 boards, 3 blocks, 3 assists, no turnovers. That's what we call productive and efficient. Nobody else had more than 13 points. If you want to say anything about having just 6 boards... Michigan St outrebounded Minny 45 to 20. Ouch.

[Ruzious]

Jaren Jackson is sickening. if you didn't see him tonight, at least check out the highlights. crazy - sometimes they simply don't go to him or he gets in foul trouble and doesn't do anything - tonight they found him. yikes. such an incredible talent. tonight i saw a guy worthy of #1 overall. not saying i'd take him there, but damn.

Yeah, a few hours ago I was babbling about how it'd be hard to not go with Bamba #1, and now I'm sayin I gotta lean toward JJJ at 1. What a top-heavy draft it's gonna be. Gotta get a top 7 pick.

[clyde21]

Chris Bosh 2.0.