Portsmouth Invitational Team Previews - Sales Systems Ltd.

C Derrick Nix (Michigan State) - Nix had perhaps his most memorable game of his career playing against Valparaiso in the second round of the NCAA Tournament this year. Nix is a huge body who is nimble on his feet and has soft touch around the basket. He's able to finish with both hands, throws around his weight well with a strong drop step, and has been coached up over the years by Tom Izzo. Nix gets over a third of his rebounds on the offensive end and his 1.1 steals per game shows that he is active on defense. He'll look to prove to scouts he can sustain that energy throughout an entire game and get out and defend ball screens on the perimeter.

SF James Ennis (Long Beach State) - James Ennis is one of the most explosive finishers in all of college basketball and participated in the college slam dunk contest. With his explosiveness, its no surprise that he is a great finisher at the rim and out in transition. He has great hangtime, but also shows the body control and strength to finish through contact. Ennis is still raw for the most part, but he's a gamer who fought hard to find ways to score. Defensively, he also has great potential but needs to play with a better court sense. His shooting has come along, but Id be hesitant to call him a reliable spot up option. With seasoning, Ennis could eventually make the NBA ala James White.

PF Ed Daniel (Murray State) - Daniel was a fringe invitee, but a guy I really felt was deserving and is capable of surprising people. He's an energy big who rebounds the ball with great intensity and is also very active and mobile on defense. He has a good basketball IQ and gets himself in good spots defensively to draw charges. Offensively, he has earned his stripes as a screener for Isaiah Canaan, but is also very fluid rolling off those screens and finishing towards the basket. If Daniel shows he can rebound well against the bigs in this event, then just maybe you will start hearing his name more often.

PG Brandon Triche (Syracuse) - Triche is a very well built guard who became a lot more aggressive this season attacking off the dribble. He's both explosive and strong getting to the lane and getting to the line is his biggest strength. Triche struggles in the mid-range area, however, and often gets himself in trouble because of it. His lack of mid-range game forces him to overpenetrate and try to muscle up some question shots at the rim and/or commit charges. Also, while he is a point guard, Triche has never been granting the main point guard duties in his four years at Syracuse. His shooting has also been suspect. Defensively, he has the tools to be a good defender but has been stuck in a zone his whole career. It will be interesting to see him play man to man at Portsmouth.

PG Khalif Wyatt (Temple) - Wyatt is a big time scorer at the college leve despite his athletic shortcomings. Wyatt can score on anybody because he doesn't rely on his athleticism, but instead relies on a bag full of tricks and hesitation moves. He knows how to draw fouls and has mastered the art of kicking his legs out on 3-pt shots. Wyatt is also a good and smart passer, although he isn't quick enough to get into the lane and constantly make plays for teammates. Instead, he uses his size to see over the defense for nice passes. When he gets into the lane, Wyatt is more often in scoring mode and looking to draw the defense off balance - which he does more often than not. At Portsmouth, it will be interesting to see him running the point with some scoring options around him and how he is able to get them the ball. We know he can score in any setting.

PG Rotnei Clarke (Butler) - Clarke isn't an NBA player, but is a dangerous shooter with unlimited range from behind the arc. After 3 seasons at Arkansas, he transferred to Butler for his senior season where he once again shot right around 40% from 3 on a high number of attempts. Despite only being 6'0 and lacking quickness, Clarke  only needs a little bit of space to get his shot off and has no problem in doing so. While NBA scouts likely won't be intrigued by what they see, Clarke is a guy who should catch the eyes of European scouts in attendance.

SF Carrick Felix (Arizona State) - Felix took an odd path to Arizona State, coming from a junior college and then originally committing to Duke. This year he finally broke out playing in a more open offense installed by Herb Sendek and ran by Jahii Carson. Felix played with a motor that was always running, putting in great work on the offensive glass and in transition. He also was able to stretch the defense out from behind the arc and defend the oppositions best player with intensity. Felix's style of play was very efficient and he also did a lot of things that didn't show up in the box score. He's a great athlete who will get a chance to show what else his offensive game consists of besides spot up jumpers and opportunities at the rim.

PF Jared Berggren (Wisconsin) - Berggren has the look of your typical Wisconsin player and in a lot of ways is. He wasn't highly recruited, redshirted his freshman year, and then sat on his bench much of the next two years until finally getting a chance to start his junior season. He earned his way into the rotation as just another piece on a really balanced offensive attack, but showed some intrigue with his combination of a post game and ability to hit jumpers form both the mid-range and 3-pt area. Berggren's toughness is also impressive and his improved rebounding this year is a good sign, even though he still leaves plenty to be desired and lacks both strength and athleticism. It will be interesting to see if he can stand out in Portsmouth or just blends in and looks like an average player. One thing that helps him is his defense - a very underrated aspect to his game.

Most likely draft pick?

Carrick Felix is not only the best player on this team, but one of the best prospects in the entire event. Fingers are still crossed that he stays in the event as other small forwards like Robert Covington and Solomon Hill have pulled their names out.

Summer League Stars?

James Ennis is the ideal summer league player, capable of putting on a show in Vegas. He's also a guy that can make the NBA with continued progression. Khalif Wyatt could earn a NBA roster spot with a good summer league performance while I see both Ed Daniel and Brandon Triche possibly making some noise in Vegas.

European Bound?

Rotnei Clarke, Jared Berggren, and Derrick Nix don't have much of a shot at the NBA, but all three of them have qualities that could make them appealing to European teams. Khalif Wyatt could also go this route and make himself a lot of money.

Portsmouth Invitational Team Previews - Cherry Bekaert

Cherry Bekaert

PF Kyle Barone (Idaho) - Not a good athlete. Lacks strength and explosiveness. Good coordination. Has a variety of moves in the post. Uses pump fakes and hesitations. Good face up game. Can put the ball on the floor. Unselfish. Pick and pop potential. Takes himself out of position going for rebounds. Gets tip-ins off offensive rebounds. Unselfish. Skilled. Plays at his own pace. Can hit from 18 feet. Needs to finish stronger and play with more of an edge. Able to hit jump hooks with either hand, but he's better with his right.

PF Devin Booker (Clemson) - Booker is a tough player who held this years Clemson team together. Liked his brother Trevor who is in the NBA, Devin is undersized but very stronger and does a great job of using his body in the paint. He loves to bang inside, rebound, and he gets more than half of his offense from around the rim. He is able to knock down face up jumpers, but is not the shooter or skill player that Trevor Booker was. He's a poor free throw shooter and has limited range. Booker has improved every year.

CG Durand Scott (Miami) - Scott is an athletic combo guard with a slashers mentality. He doesn't have much trouble getting inside, but often struggles to finish because of the high degree of difficulty shots he takes. He has a tendency to overdribble and doesn't do a good job of finding teammates on his drives, which often gets him in trouble in the lane. He has never been a great shooter, but has improved recently and is able to hit tough shots off the dribble. Scott has potential to be a good defender and showed great intensity in the role of defensive stopper this year for Miami. He took a backseat to Shane Larkin without any complaining.

PG Jordan Hulls (Indiana) - Hulls is an Indiana kid who looks like he is straight out of Hoosiers. He has a reputation for being both extremely tough and a very good shooter. Hulls battled a shoulder injury late in the year that hampered his performance and struggled mightily against the length of Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament. He rarely gets in the lane and creates for teammates, but he is a steady ball handler who is able to lead a team.

PF Murphy Holloway (Ole Miss) - Holloway is a bruising undersized power forward who gets off doing the dirty work inside for guys like Marshall Henderson. He does a great job getting offensive rebounds and is an outstanding finisher among bigs. He lacks much in terms of polish or offensive skills and gets by more with his strength and explosiveness. Holloway has an outstanding motor and runs the court very hard in transition - where he throws down some thunderous dunks.

SF EJ Singler (Oregon) - Another player who has a brother in the NBA, Singler is the brother of Kyle Singler and plays with the same toughness and understanding of the game. He generally operates in the mid-range area, where he is able to create jumpers in post up or isolation situations. He does a good job using his body and is also a solid passer out of these situations. He is able to hit mid-range jumpers consistently, but has yet to become a deadly shooter from outside - although he is solid. Singler is an underwhelming athlete who gets by on defense thanks to his toughness and hoops IQ. He was part of a balanced Oregon Ducks team and contributed in just about every area. He's very much a poor man's version of his brother.

PG Anthony Marshall (UNLV) - Marshall has learned the point guard position on the fly at UNLV this year after being more of a scoring guard in previous seasons. He has good size at 6'3 for the position and is able to use it well to carve out space and be crafty with the ball. He shows good potential in the pick and roll game and is a good passer despite not being a natural point guard. Marshall loves to get inside and is a good finisher, but struggles from the FT line. He has improved his range, but still is far from a consistent shooter. Marshall isn't the quickest or most explosive player, but he does a great job handling the ball and getting to where he wants to on the court. He is able to play at different speeds and does a good job pushing the ball in transition.

G/F Elston Turner (Texas A&M) - Originally just a spot up shooter and defender, Turner transferred from Washington to Texas A&M where he became the focal point of the offense. Turner is still at his best coming around screens and shooting from deep, but he is now comfortable off the dribble as well - at least enough to keep defenses honest. He has added a odd looking floater that has helped him score on plays outside of his jumper, but he doesn't attack the hoop with intent of getting to the rim and rarely does actually get all the way there. He's a smart player offensively and is capable of getting hot and carry his team - as seen when he dropped 40 against Kentucky. The son of former NBA player and coach bearing the same name, Turner has  been well-schooled on the game and certainly has the background to potentially make it in the NBA.

Most likely to get drafted?

Either Durand Scott or Anthony Marshall, although neither are anywhere near locks. 50/50 shots at best. A good PIT will obviously help. Both will be looked at closely to see how they defend and if they can transition to full time point guards.

Summer League bodies?

Elston Turner has connections already in the league and should secure a spot to show what he can do. But he is also probably the most likely of the group (besides the aforementioned Scott and Marshall) to potentially find a role in the NBA. Murphy Holloway is also deserving of an extra look.

Overseas Players?

EJ Singler, Jordan Hulls, Devin Booker, and Kyle Barone are all highly unlikely to make it in the NBA. The good thing for all 4 is they have shown that they are tough, coachable, and have good character. There will be a spot for them in Europe or elsewhere for them to begin their pro careers. Singler's brother already showed a willingness to play in Europe and had great success so his reputation could help EJ secure a good home.

Montrose Christian vs Findlay Prep Scouting Notes

Ishmail Wainwright (#60 ESPN, #52 Scout, #63 Rivals) - Wainwright is built like a bull, with perhaps the widest shoulders ever seen on a high school basketball player. He runs a lot of point for Montrose even though he is definitely a small forward at the next level. Montrose likes him to handle the ball and slow down the tempo and try to outmuscle teams. Wainwright himself isn't a very good ball handler, but uses his body well to protect the ball and get where ever he wants to on the court. His lack of handling skills showed in the first half against Nigel Williams-Goss and he turned the ball over a total of 6 times in those 16 minutes. In the second half, Wainwright operated more off the ball and was more aggressive scoring than I've ever seen him. He was able to get position anywhere he wanted to and muscled up a lot of mid-range jumpers with 15 feet that he got to go down. Wainwright appears to have good touch on his shots, but doesn't get great elevation as he really relies on his size to get him enough room. Wainwright is also a great defender and leader and that is what he will be able to bring to Baylor. Im worried about how his offensive game will translate at the next level, but he will be a great guy to have on the team and should be a steady player who will do the dirty work. He's a warrior.

Nigel Williams-Goss (#20 ESPN, #61 Scout, #48 Rivals) - Goss absolutely took the game over in the second half to give his teamt he victory and preserve Findlay's 53 game win streak. When you talk about Williams-Goss, the terms winner is the first thing that comes to mind. He is a tough competitor, great leader, and a very mature kid who has been playing  in a high level environment at Findlay for 4 years (he's the first player to play 4 years on varsity at Findlay). During his second half run, Williams-Goss was able to score in the lane with floaters, in the post, with jumpers, and get to the foul line. Every possession he went down and just made something happen. In college, some of his size and strength advantages will be taken away, but Williams-Goss is the type that will be able to adjust. He adjusted to the defense Wainwright played on his in the first half  to score 16 points in the 2nd half. Williams-Goss will struggle at times in college getting by defenders as he isn't blessed with quickness and he also isn't a prolific jump shooter or elite passer. But in terms of basketball, Williams-Goss lives and breaths the game.

La Lumiere vs St. Benedict's Prep Scouting Notes

Tyler Ennis (#38 ESPN, #24 Scout, #23 Rivals) - One of my personal favorites of the 2013 class, Ennis will be heading to Syracuse next year where he will be asked to lead the team right away. And after years playing with Team Canada, St. Benedict's Prep, and CIA Bounce on the AAU circuit he has plenty of experience. There isn't a point guard in high school right now who is more well-rounded and ready for college than Ennis. He is outstanding in pick and roll action where he thrives both as a scorer and a passer. In this game, Ennis took over in the second half by getting to the line 8 times and scoring 16 of his 22 points during the final 16 minutes. He has great ball handling skills, great leadership, and his basketball IQ is mature well beyond his years. Ennis also has good height and while he isn't the great athlete, he has a good enough combination of size, quickness, strength, and explosiveness to the point where it doesn't hurt him. Ennis is the type of point guard who works best off pick and rolls and prefers to attack much more than shoot from the outside. That said, he has a very good mid-range game and is excellent from the foul line. Look for him to be a great player right away at Cuse and expect him to stick around for a couple of seasons.

Isaiah Briscoe (#16 ESPN Class of 2015) - Briscoe wasn't 100% in this game and it showed. He played just 14 minutes and committed 4 fouls during that time. Once pegged as one of the best freshmen in the country. Briscoe is now a year older and doesn't look like he's made the next jump. He's a powerfully built wing, but isn't that big or long and it seems like his competition is catching up with him. Still, its impressive that he's been able to be a key player on such a good, well-coached team from day one and he does play a mature game. We will see if how he continues to develop down the line.

Mike Young (#57 ESPN) - Young is heading to Pittsburgh and he's exactly what you'd expect a Pitt player to look like. He's 6'8 with a good build and can cover both forward positions. He's a great rebounder and looks stuck in between the 3 and the 4 spot on offense. He does have good touch on his jumper and could score in similar ways to JJ Moore once he arrives on campus. He's yet another building block for Jamie Dixon, but not a game changer.

Detrick Mostella (#77 ESPN, #68 Scout, #84 Rivals) - The Oklahoma State commit is a scoring guard who isn't shy when it comes to taking shots. He took 26 of them on Thursday including 8 from deep - all of which he missed. He is best when he is slashing to the rim and he was able to find ways to get himself plenty of shots at the rim as well. He is a creative finisher and is able to hang in the air, but he will need to get stronger to consistently finish in the paint at high major level. Mostella should eventually become a very good scorer for Oklahoma State and could even turn into their go-to guy down the road.

Oak Hill vs Montverde Academy Scouting Notes

Sindarius Thornwell (#39 ESPN, #43 Scout, #29 Rivals) - At this point, you know what you are getting from Thornwell. Thornwell is a strong shooting guard who plays with a lot of energy, has some explosiveness at the rim, and can finish through contact. His go to shot is a mid-range pull up following a couple of hard dribbles and its a shot he can make, but he's far from consistent. Thornwell is also very good on the boards and can play strong defense as well. Heading to South Carolina next year, you can expect him to be able to score with relative ease, but he will need to work on his efficiency. With all his long pull-up jumpers, he has a lot of poor shooting nights. Thornwell needs to not settle for those shots as much, get to the rim, and also expand his range so he is a reliable shooter from deep.

Troy Williams (#42 ESPN, #38 Scout, #66 Rivals) - Troy Williams reminds me of the wing version of CJ Leslie in the sense the he looks like a star, makes some highlight reel plays, but is also highly inconsistent and lacks fundamentals. Williams is a terror running in transition and can finish way above the rim. He also can run to the corner and hit shots from behind the arc. The halfcourt game is where he really struggles though and its why he disappears at times. He struggles to make plays for himself as he lacks both the ball handling and strength needed. Williams relies on a shaky behind the back dribble that results in turnovers more times than not and is often out of control. Defensively, Williams has all the tools but needs to play smarter and dial in more consistently. Williams is a guy that jumps out at you upon first glance, but the more games you see him play, the more your expectations become tempered. He will have to work hard for a role at Indiana next year.

Nate Britt (#93 ESPN, #76 Scout)- Britt has slowly slipped down recruiting rankings and against Kasey Hill, he had a chance to win back some doubters. He finished with 16 points on 12 shots, but also had 6 turnovers to only 2 assists. Britt seems to lack the explosion to dominate the way he used to before he transferred to Oak Hill and has become more of a jump shooter. He won't be a threat to take away the starting point guard job from Marcus Paige next year.

Dakari Johnson (#11 ESPN, #13 Scout, #18 Rivals)- I hadn't seen Dakari play as much as a lot of the big time recruits in the NHSI and my expectations weren't very high considering he had a late night the day before at the McDonald's All-American game. But he ended up exceeding my expectations and turned in a 17 point, 13 rebound, and 7 block performance on only 12 shots. Dakari is a back to the basket guy who worked consistently to get good position and his teammates rewarded him with entry passes. He showed nice patience in kicking the ball out to establish deeper position, looking very much like a experienced big man. Johnson seems to know his area of expertise and works to get within 10 feet of the basket. He has good touch on a standstill jumper from about 10 feet and is able to score close to the rim with either hand. His conditioning level was impressive as was his defensive ability. He isn't a Nerlens Noel type shot blocker, but he is a better post defender thanks to his strength and is certainly a good athlete. Look for Dakari Johnson to give Willie Cauley-Stein a battle for the starting center spot. If Coach Cal chooses the better player, expect Johnson to start.

Kasey Hill (#9 ESPN, #9 ESPN, #8 Rivals)- Hill wasn't 100% and also plagued by a tough travel schedule from the Mickey D's game, butr he dished out 10 assists in the win over Oak Hill. Hill also went 2-10 from the field and turned it over 7 times. It wasn't his best game, but he showed great burst in the open court and was creative in finding ways to distribute the ball. If you ran with Hill in transition, he was going to get it to you. He made a nice spinning dish and his quickness was on display. Late in the game he began cramping up, but fought through it to close out the victory. He gutted out this win and kept the team together, which is what you have to do when you aren't playing your best.

Ben Simmons (#5 ESPN Class of 2015)- Simmons is only a sophomore, but is already a legitimate prospect and could even wind up as a "one and done" player. He has great size at 6'9 and the ability to play both outside and inside. The Aussie came to the states midseason to join Montverde and has found ways to contribute to wins without being "the guy". In fact, Simmons comes off the bench behind WVU commit Devin Williams. Simmons earned himself extra minutes over Williams on Thursday with tough play at the rim and unselfish play on offense. He was great moving the ball on offense, showing passing skills from the high post and the perimeter. Simmons also rebounded the ball tough and contested and finished plays above the rim. He was a force in transition and the best/most versatile defender on the court. Selfishly I would have liked to see him show off his offensive game more, but its not his role on his current team. He scored 16 points on just 7 shots in 24 minutes of play - you couldn't have asked for a more positive performance. It will be interesting if Simmons progresses more towards the SF or PF role in the next few years. Either way he will be a very good prospect and has a great future ahead of him.

Devin Williams (#37 ESPN, #57 Scout, #91 Rivals) - Williams lost out on playing time to Simmons, but saw big minutes late in the fourth quarter and was a big part of forcing this game into overtime. He is a strong rebounder and active defender who gets most of his offense on putbacks. He projects to be a power forward, although he isn't a post player or jump shooter really. His ticket on offense is his toughness and hustle. He will probably fill a role at WVU similar to the one John Flowers played late in his career, although there is always room for him to improve his game. Nevertheless, Williams should be a solid 4-yr contributor at the college level.

Prime Prep vs Blance Ely Scouting Notes

Prime Prep had a noticeable size advantage over Blanche Ely, but Ely fought hard until the end and pushed the game into overtime. Unfortunately, the game was lost because their coach called a timeout they didn't have, but it doesn't take anything away from the effort they displayed.
LSU commit Jordan Mickey (ranked 36th on Scout, 41st on Rivals, 53rd on ESPN) stole the show this game and ended up having the most impressive performance out of anyone during the day. Mickey is labeled as a combo forward and it should be noted that it is no knock against him. Instead of having that label because he is a "tweener" Mickey actually looks great out on the wing, but the "combo" part comes into play because he can score in the post with jump hooks from either hand. Mickey is an outstanding athlete and gets great elevation on his jumper. He has a nice looking stroke from mid-range and because of his release point, it is nearly impossible to contest. Mickey also hit all 10 of his free throws and blocked a day high 8 shots. He finished with 28 points on 9-14 shooting. Look for him to be an immediate contributor to a much improved LSU team - a team that could eventually crack the top 25 next season.

PG Emmanuel Mudiay (Ranked #3 in 2014) had a sub-par game, but looks the part of a great point guard prospect. He has legit size at around 6-3 or 6-4, long arms, and is a great athlete. Mudiay made his impact felt defensive and found teammates in transition for lobs. His mid-range game is said to be improving, but he didn't show much in the halfcourt in this one.

Senior post man Karviar Shepherd (72nd on ESPN, 46th on Rivals, 67th on Scout) will take his game to TCU next year and should start immediately. Shephard has good height and moves well on his feet - doing an excellent job defending pick and rolls and communicating. He needs to get stronger, but made the effort to box out each play and knows how to use his body to get post position. Shephard has a good feel with his back to the basket and is able to convert hook shots with either hand.

Freshman small forward Terrance Ferguson is one to watch for Prime Prep as he averages 10 points off the bench for the loaded team. Ferguson isn't shy at all and was seen demanded the ball from Mudiay on two occasions when he was open outside the arc. Fergeuson is quick to release shots from behind the arc and is a long, lanky athlete. He reminds me a bit of LaQuinton Ross, although he did show more commitment on defense - although he is a face guarded at this point. Ferguson is one of the most talented freshmen in the country and oozes potential despite scoring just 3 points in this one.

Sophomore power forward Elijah Thomas (top 10 recruit in class of 2015) was the most physically imposing player on the court in this game, although he was plagued by early foul trouble. One tough call that went against him was a blocking call where he seemed to in perfect position to draw the charge. Thomas has the built of Anthony Bennett and some of the perimeter skills too, but it was good to see him sacrificing his body inside. He also scored some big points in overtime thanks to a strong dropstep move and finish with his left hand.

Kahlil Thomas was the lone starting big man that could combat Prime Prep's size and he had his moments. He scored 20 points and grabbed 9 rebounds while shooting 6-13 from the floor. Thomas made a few jumpers early and then fell in love with the shot late, despite airballing one from outside his range. He appears to be a solid faceup threat, but struggled defensively and doesn't have a back to the basket game.

Junior wing Richard Lee has good size and a strong build for a shooting guard. He has a natural fade to his jumper and it looks like he has the potential of being a nice mid-range player. Lee's efforts defensively were his biggest contributions this game, however, and that could be his calling card at the high D1 level. He holds offers from Maryland, Florida, Miami, Kansas State, Virginia Tech, and George Mason.

Junior guard Lance Tejada showed skills as both a passer and scorer and did a great job getting into the paint. He struggled to get his shots to fall, but it looks like he has a future as a scoring lead guard. He has offers from Miami, George Mason, Virginia, USF, and others.

Sophomore Therrell Gossier will be a guy to continue to monitor from Blanche Ely. The big man played tough and pulled down 10 boards to go along with 11 points off the bench.

Scouting Report: Pierre Jackson

Coming out of Southern Idaho as a JUCO player in 2011, Pierre Jackson was an already decorated player having been named MVP of the Junior College Tournament en route to winning the National Title. He was considered the #1 junior college recruit that year over the likes of Nurideen Lindsay and Sam Grooms and inked his letter of intent to Baylor. With Tweety Carter having graduated, Baylor was in need of a point guard and Scott Drew elected to go with AJ Walton to start the 2011-12 campaign. But right before conference play, he made the switch to Pierre Jackson and he never looked back from there. Jackson took the point guard spot and ran with it, leading Baylor to the Elite 8 while averaging over 17 points and 6 assists during their NCAA Tournament run. While most of his teammates headed for the NBA, he returned for one more year at Baylor - his senior season and has continued to post impressive numbers. Jackson led the Big 12 in both scoring and assisting this season, becoming the first player to lead a major conference in those two stats since Jason Terry did it in the late 90s for Arizona. Despite his strong individual play, Baylor underachieved to their talent level and winded up in the NIT - where they play Iowa in the championship game Thursday Night.

Pierre Jackson stands under 6 feet tall - listed at 5'10 - but has a good built to him. He's not the bowling ball type guard, but he is able to handle contact and use his strength to combat his lack of height. His athleticism and skillset is his biggest tool for compensating his height, however, as he possessing great quickness and solid explosiveness at the rim.

Ever the passer, Jackson holds the all-time assist record in the state of Nevada and has continued to carve up defenses at Baylor. He has an extremely tight handle that he is able to use to toy with defenses. There is nobody in college basketball who is able to dribble around defenders and make guys look silly quite like Jackson can. He is always in control with the ball and is able to get to whatever spot on the court he wants - often looking to deliver a pass to a teammate. He's great at pushing it in transition, driving and kicking, finding guys going to the rim, and uses angles to create looks for his teammates. When it comes to passing, Jackson appears to be a natural and more than willing.

Jackson is also able to provide scoring and often scores in bunches. He uses the same ability to get to whatever spot he wants on the court to set up jumpers, where he is able to stop on a dime and pull up from anywhere. He takes jumpers from all over the court and is not afraid to pull up early in the shot clock if he catches a defender trying to play off of him. He constantly looks to keep the defense honest with his jumper so he can beat them with the drive the very next play. Its the balance in Jackson's game that makes him so lethal as he literally can do just about anything on the court.

Jackson can rely on his jumpshot too much at times and is better when he is in attack mode. He can get jumpers at any point of time which makes it tough to pass up the looks, but its also the exact reason he should be patient and look to create more plays inside for himself and teammates. Jackson takes nearly half of his shots from 3-pt range and hits them at a 35% clip. For the undersized guard, range is not an issue and he does not hesitate to pull up from a few steps behind the arc.

For the most part, Jackson plays the game smart and does a good job balancing his own scoring and assisting. Its really hard to argue otherwise - after all  he did lead the league in both categories and he had a lot on his plate. There will be times where Jackson looks almost exclusively to pass the ball and racks up plenty of assists and there are other times where he knows his team needs him to score and he is able to flip that switch to score on and off. He seems to have a knack for stepping his play up at the most important times which speaks to just how much talent he has. There literally isn't anything or anybody he can't do/score against at the college level. He won MVP in the National JUCO tournament, posted big numbers in the NCAA tournament, and has scored over 20 points and 10 assists in each of this years NIT games. This is a big time player.

Saying that, it is hard to say there isn't a role for Jackson in the NBA. Put him in an environment with even better competition and you can guarantee that his play will take an even bigger step up. Jackson has shown the ability to run the pick and roll to perfection, showing the he is able to slow down his play and take apart a defense with more smart play rather than just quickness. This year, he has played with two good pick and pop big men (Jefferson and Austin) and has been able to manipulate the defense into getting them open looks. His pick and roll game can get even better because of his mastery of ball handling, his ability to dribble around defenses in traffic, the threat of his pull up game, his ability to split defenders, and his passing. Really, he has everything needed to be a good pick and roll player minus the idea size. Much like Isaiah Thomas, I see him being able to carve out a solid role off the bench providing both scoring and stability at the point - whatever the team needs on any given night.

I'd actually rate Jackson as a better prospect as Thomas coming out of college as well. His biggest concern that he will be able to answer is his defensive intensity. Jackson will never be a great defender because of the height he gives up - offensive players even in college have shown that you can score over top of him at will - but a better effort from him for a full game is expected.

Jackson is very young for a senior and won't turn 22 until late August. That combined with only two years at a D1 school give him a little bit more upside than a normal player in his position. If he had a chance to play one more year in D1, I think he'd have a very realistic shot at being a 1st team All-American. He is a high character guy and there is good reason to believe Jackson could carve out a long NBA career in a bench/spark plug role.

Jackson currently projects as a second rounder and he could even potentially go undrafted, but I think with good workouts and interviews - two things I expect - Jackson should find himself a home in Round 2.