NBA Draft: Who Shined on Day 4 of NCAA Tournament?

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Mar 20, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Demetrius Jackson (11) dunks over Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks forward Thomas Walkup (0) during the second half in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Opponent: Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (14)

Result: 76-75, W

Stat Line: 38 minutes, 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 6/8 FG, 2/3 3PT, 4/4 FT

Position: Point Guard

Age: 21 (9/7/1994)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’1″, 194 pounds, 6’4.75″

Analysis

Demetrius Jackson has a lot of NBA in his game, and his performance in the Round of 32 painted a clear picture of the player he can become: Darren Collison. Collison may not be an All-Star, but he’s one of the league’s elite backup point guards who could start on a high number of teams.

True to Collison’s form, Jackson picked his spots and provided a strong impact defensively as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish escaped with a 76-75 victory.

Jackson finished with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including marks of 2-of-2 from beyond the arc and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. It was an incredibly efficient performance by a player who has been one of the Top 15 prospects on my big board since the beginning of the season.

12 of Jackson’s 18 points were scored in the second half, which was the perfect way for him to restore faith in his draft stock.

Jackson has lightning-like quickness and explosive leaping ability, which is the foundation for his appeal. He can fall in love with his jump shot, but he’s an efficient shooter in small doses who gets to the line and facilitates in an NBA-caliber manner.

Jackson may or may not be a star at the next level, but he seems to be a safe NBA prospect.

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