Faced with a chance to work himself into the conversation of being a lottery pick or return to school, Justin Jackson returning to North Carolina has proven to be one of the more important underclassmen decisions thus far in the offseason.
Coming off of a last-second loss to Villanova in the 2016 NCAA Championship game, the Tar Heels looked like they might be victims of a mass exodus to graduation and the NBA ranks. After all, with the 2016 NBA Draft not looking entirely deep this season, there could be plenty of room to move up for a player among teams’ draft boards. In the end, the areas still needed to be improved upon for Jackson were too large for the NBA to give him the recommendation of staying in the draft.
Of those areas for Jackson, who averaged 12.2 points and 3.9 rebounds as a sophomore, are his efficiencies offensively, strength, rebounding, and overall skillset in scoring the ball.
As a smooth, long, 6’8” wing surrounded by the talent that he has been, it’s almost mind boggling to consider that he doesn’t hit more from the perimeter. While he’s at his best attacking the rim, despite average ball handling skills, Jackson failed to reach the 30-percent mark from downtown, a number that simply can’t get you drafted when you’re not able to post up with your back to the basket, or affect the NBA game with elite defense or rebounding.
None of this is to say a breakout junior campaign can’t happen–in fact, this writer thinks it’s a good bet–but Justin Jackson returning to North Carolina is easily in the best interest of his professional dreams.
