Jackson makes the watch list, but if we had done the rankings, he would’ve been on it with the way that he played to begin the Spring. He was a standout at an earlier tournament as he already understands how to anchor a defense, which is impressive for his age. He has good size and protected the paint in the few games that we saw him in, which made us want to see if there was more. He has good timing, understands where to be as a help-side defender, and got individual stops. Offensively, he stayed within himself and capitalized around the basket without forcing to many shots, and we saw him have a big time game scoring inside of the paint. The game looked comfortable for him as a game-changer, and once the offensive side continues expanding, there’s real upside for him to make some noise. Buy Drake stock early on. 

Jackson made a significant impact as a defensive anchor, using his size and footwork to protect the paint. He consistently altered shots around the rim, making it difficult for opponents to find success inside. Jackson’s ability to rotate as a help side defender stood out, as he showed good awareness and timing when stepping in to contest shots. Offensively, he capitalized on his positioning, working effectively in the half court to score in the paint. His presence on both ends of the floor helped control the tempo of the game, particularly in limiting open looks near the paint for opposing teams.