Jaren Jackson Jr.: 2018 NBA Draft player profile

Strengths

Rim protection/Team defense 

Jaren Jackson Jr.’s greatest strength and NBA asset is his future defensive prowess when he reaches the NBA. Jackson is the most complete defensive big man prospect in the class by a wide margin.

Jackson’s rim protection comes from his great 7’4″ wingspan combined with his leaping ability to match his elite length. He posts an absolutely obscene 14.3 block percentage. Here’s how that stacks up compared to the other top big men in the class.

Jackson’s blocks are not just solely based on his wonderful length and athleticism. He is also the best team defender out of all the big men and maybe guards in his class as well.

Here’s an example of Jaren Jackson Jr. showing off his team defense in a dribble handoff. In this play against Illinois, Jackson’s man Leron Black is working a handoff with his teammate. Watch how Jackson makes a hard hedge, but then more importantly, how fast he recovers back on his man.

Now in this clip against Duke, Jaren Jackson Jr. shows how his team defense helps him to be an even better rim protector. When Duke point guard Trevon Duval drives to the hoop for a layup, Jackson is guarding Javin DeLaurier, and he rotates over from the weak side to block Duval’s shot.

This was Jackson’s second college game. The fact that a freshman playing in only his second college game could make this read on defense is insane.

Flashes of ball-handling versatility 

Every once in a blue moon, Jaren Jackson Jr. flashes raw but still jaw-dropping ball-handling skills for a player of his size. Even though Jackson should never be considered a real ball-handler, it’s nice to have a big man that has the potential to attack the rim in straight lines in the future.

I’m certain you can find this clip of Jaren Jackson Jr. in almost any highlight tape you watch of him. On this drive against Illinois, Jackson goes in between his legs, hits his defender with a hesitation, then drives past him for an extremely powerful one-handed dunk.

Here’s another clip of Jackson’s best offensive game of the season against Minnesota. This is more of a realistic look into Jackson’s future handling duties. He attacks a closeout driving to the hoop, and as the help defensive comes over, Jackson makes a beautiful touch pass into Kenny Goins for an easy layup.

Normally, Jackson gets praise for having a high defensive I.Q., but his flashes of vision like this pass show he has some offensive I.Q. as well.

Finishing with both hands 

This is a very underrated skill that does not get enough credit. There are so many players that head to the NBA now and cannot finish with both hands. It’s a skill that every NBA big man needs to score efficiently. Jackson’s ability to finish with both hands is very impressive, but very underrated.

Here are two possessions against Wisconsin where Jaren Jackson finishes with his left (off) hand. He catches the ball at the high post, faces up and knocks down a tough left-handed running hook shot through contact.

The second showcases Jackson’s ball-handling as well. Here, Jackson attacks a closeout from Ethan Happ, gets to the rim from the free throw line in one dribble, and finishes through contact with his left hand.

Deceptive rebounding skill 

Since Jackson only averages 8.7 rebounds per 40 minutes, his rebounding is often talked about as a weakness. However, it is important to take into consideration the team context of Jackson’s rebounding statistics. Michigan State was sixth out of all Division I teams in total rebounds. They had two players that averaged over seven rebounds per game. The Spartans were a very balanced and quality rebounding team this season.

Even though Jackson did not put up the best rebounding numbers on the team, he was a major key to the team’s rebounding as a whole. Here’s Jaren Jackson Jr. boxing out Duke forward Javin DeLaurier and drawing a foul. Jackson does a nice job of boxing out and even though it doesn’t always result in rebounds for himself, it makes the rebounds easier for his team to get.