Post by Funky George! on Jan 3, 2009 19:02:13 GMT -5
A.C. Jackson
21 years old, 6'7, 205
Junior, UCLA
B-/C+/C/B+/C/B
Strengths-A.C. Jackson can defend just about anyone. He was the star wing on the national runner-up and shut down the best player on just about every team the Bruins faced. Not only did he average 2 steals and 1 block per game, but he's got great quickness, long arms and great instincts. He can be overbearing on quick point guards, he plays right underneath great shooters and rarely gets beat, and even does a great job on ball denial against regular-sized power forwards...Jackson can also attack the basket on the offensive end. He's got a great first step and really gets off the ground. Was a personal highlight reel of putback and breakaway dunks his junior year...His midrange game is very solid. Shot an 80% clip from the foul line. He isn't pretty on his jump shot, because he jumps high, hitches and shoots at his highest point but releases something of a line drive, but he's really consistent...Solid offensive rebounder when he sees a potential basket, too.
Weaknesses-His offensive game is so centered around his ability to dominate college opponents athletically that scouts aren't sure he'll ever be much of a score in BBS. He can't shoot past 18 feet, because he changes his shot, hardly leaves the ground and is all arms on his threes, making him incredibly inconsistent. He's going to air ball and brick a lot of threes if he takes them...Has no court vision. He's very quick and a capable ballhandler but he won't make a skip pass and is known for lobbing entry passes into the arms of defenders. He's good for two turnovers per game and not many assists...For all of his athleticism and strength, he's a disappointing rebounder. Probably only good for 5-6 per game, even as a 3.
Overall-Jackson has all the physical tools to be make a huge impact at any level. However, his game is so unique it may be limited. He's going to be an all-league defender eventually, but can he be more than a great role player? He's not going to be a threat to knock down a three at all. Whether or not he'll be enough of a threat to score depends on how his midrange game translates to BBS. He's not going to be blowing by taller and quicker competition than the guys he faced in college, so will he be able to hit shots with a hand in his face? Will he be able to get to the basket given the fact that defenders will be giving him a fair amount of space? Conversely, some scouts project stardom for Jackson. He's a notoriously hard worker, he's one of the best athletes in college basketball and he's already a dominant defender. One scout we spoke to said it depends on the system he's in: "his development will really depend on what's asked of him. If he's put in an uptempo offense, he'll get 3 or 4 buckets a night just running the break, and he'll probably develop a better drive and get more open looks on his jumper. But if he's asked to score in the half court, he could be a disappointement."
For other scouts, though, it's not so iffy. As one scout told us, "Unconventional players can still become superstars, and this guy has all the tools. With his work ethic, he'll either learn how to knock down threes or become a great contributor knocking down jumpers and getting to the basket."
The consensus among scouts is that he's an elite defender. He has all the athletic ability to someday be great, but he may have to completely transform his offensive game to be more than a great role player.
Draft Projection--More than likely somewhere between picks 9-13. Teams that use the draft to lock up a superstar or that fixate on getting a great point guard or big man may overlook him, but he deserves a spot in the lotto. He's the best defender in his class and a smart GM will count on turning a guy with such great work ethic and athleticism into a worthwhile offensive player with RCs.
BBS Comparisons--Tayshaun Prince with far better defensive statstics--in the range of 4 SPG+BPG. Best case scenario, he develops Delvon Roe's offensive game with a solid A defensively.
Some quotes from his workout in Orlando...
"I'm the kind of guy who doesn't care what kind of numbers I put up as long as we win. Don't get me wrong, I love dunking on a guy or blocking a shot, but I don't remember those things as much as I remember losing in the last college game I played. I would have stayed if the program weren't rebuilding."
"I think I have a place in BBS. I'm really confident in my defense. I don't think I'll be leaned upon for great offense, but I think I can hit my shots and do a good job playing above the rim. I know I'm more athletic than most guys that will guard me."
"I've heard all kinds of different things from scouts. Some have told me I'm Trevor Ariza, some have said I'm Shawn Marion without the threes, one guy even said Dwayne Wade. I don't worry about who I play like. I know I can defend and I know I'll do whatever I'm asked to work on to be a great player."
"I first shit my pants on the court in high school. It's a bad habit but I'm dealing with it."
21 years old, 6'7, 205
Junior, UCLA
B-/C+/C/B+/C/B
Strengths-A.C. Jackson can defend just about anyone. He was the star wing on the national runner-up and shut down the best player on just about every team the Bruins faced. Not only did he average 2 steals and 1 block per game, but he's got great quickness, long arms and great instincts. He can be overbearing on quick point guards, he plays right underneath great shooters and rarely gets beat, and even does a great job on ball denial against regular-sized power forwards...Jackson can also attack the basket on the offensive end. He's got a great first step and really gets off the ground. Was a personal highlight reel of putback and breakaway dunks his junior year...His midrange game is very solid. Shot an 80% clip from the foul line. He isn't pretty on his jump shot, because he jumps high, hitches and shoots at his highest point but releases something of a line drive, but he's really consistent...Solid offensive rebounder when he sees a potential basket, too.
Weaknesses-His offensive game is so centered around his ability to dominate college opponents athletically that scouts aren't sure he'll ever be much of a score in BBS. He can't shoot past 18 feet, because he changes his shot, hardly leaves the ground and is all arms on his threes, making him incredibly inconsistent. He's going to air ball and brick a lot of threes if he takes them...Has no court vision. He's very quick and a capable ballhandler but he won't make a skip pass and is known for lobbing entry passes into the arms of defenders. He's good for two turnovers per game and not many assists...For all of his athleticism and strength, he's a disappointing rebounder. Probably only good for 5-6 per game, even as a 3.
Overall-Jackson has all the physical tools to be make a huge impact at any level. However, his game is so unique it may be limited. He's going to be an all-league defender eventually, but can he be more than a great role player? He's not going to be a threat to knock down a three at all. Whether or not he'll be enough of a threat to score depends on how his midrange game translates to BBS. He's not going to be blowing by taller and quicker competition than the guys he faced in college, so will he be able to hit shots with a hand in his face? Will he be able to get to the basket given the fact that defenders will be giving him a fair amount of space? Conversely, some scouts project stardom for Jackson. He's a notoriously hard worker, he's one of the best athletes in college basketball and he's already a dominant defender. One scout we spoke to said it depends on the system he's in: "his development will really depend on what's asked of him. If he's put in an uptempo offense, he'll get 3 or 4 buckets a night just running the break, and he'll probably develop a better drive and get more open looks on his jumper. But if he's asked to score in the half court, he could be a disappointement."
For other scouts, though, it's not so iffy. As one scout told us, "Unconventional players can still become superstars, and this guy has all the tools. With his work ethic, he'll either learn how to knock down threes or become a great contributor knocking down jumpers and getting to the basket."
The consensus among scouts is that he's an elite defender. He has all the athletic ability to someday be great, but he may have to completely transform his offensive game to be more than a great role player.
Draft Projection--More than likely somewhere between picks 9-13. Teams that use the draft to lock up a superstar or that fixate on getting a great point guard or big man may overlook him, but he deserves a spot in the lotto. He's the best defender in his class and a smart GM will count on turning a guy with such great work ethic and athleticism into a worthwhile offensive player with RCs.
BBS Comparisons--Tayshaun Prince with far better defensive statstics--in the range of 4 SPG+BPG. Best case scenario, he develops Delvon Roe's offensive game with a solid A defensively.
Some quotes from his workout in Orlando...
"I'm the kind of guy who doesn't care what kind of numbers I put up as long as we win. Don't get me wrong, I love dunking on a guy or blocking a shot, but I don't remember those things as much as I remember losing in the last college game I played. I would have stayed if the program weren't rebuilding."
"I think I have a place in BBS. I'm really confident in my defense. I don't think I'll be leaned upon for great offense, but I think I can hit my shots and do a good job playing above the rim. I know I'm more athletic than most guys that will guard me."
"I've heard all kinds of different things from scouts. Some have told me I'm Trevor Ariza, some have said I'm Shawn Marion without the threes, one guy even said Dwayne Wade. I don't worry about who I play like. I know I can defend and I know I'll do whatever I'm asked to work on to be a great player."
"I first shit my pants on the court in high school. It's a bad habit but I'm dealing with it."
