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2017 NBA Mock Draft: Point Guards Dominate The Early Field

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 17, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) celebrates after the Wildcats defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 103-100 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) celebrates after the Wildcats defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 103-100 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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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 /

6. Josh Jackson, Kansas Jayhawks

Position: Guard/Forward
Age: 19 (2/10/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7.75″, 203 pounds, 6’9.75″
2016-17 Slash Line: .496/.327/.547
2016-17 Season Averages: 29.1 MPG, 15.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.3 ORPG, 3.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 0.8 3PM

Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks are developing yet another elite athlete at a perimeter position. Following in the footsteps of 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, Josh Jackson is a moldable player who can be as good as he wants to be.

Regardless of which position Jackson ends up playing, what’s clear is that he’s something special from a pure talent perspective.

The advantage that Jackson has over Wiggins is that he’s already proven to be a strong passer who sees the floor well from that perspective. He’s also shown flashes of being a quality 3-point shooter when his feet are set.

Jackson’s free throw shooting is unforgivably poor, but he appears to be a team player who takes coaching and is willing to do what it takes to realize his true potential.

Jackson has the athleticism and size to be a small forward, but he’d be better off at the 2 at the next level. He’d be able to exploit advantages over smaller defenders and use his size, strength, and vision as a passer to help dictate the pace of the offense.

Regardless of which position he ends up playing, one would be hard-pressed to find a 2017 prospect with more upside than Jackson.