Rating the Top 3 high school players in the country is really difficult and Josh Jackson is ranked 1st or 3rd by different websites. But a recent performance proves the Michigan State prospect is solid at the top.
Josh Jackson is ranked no.1 in Rivals and no.3 in ESPN, and the consensus is that there's a top three between him, Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum who recently committed to Duke.
However, there are times when Jackson seems unstoppable and it's almost impossible not to rank him at the top. Just like the game where he was interviewed pre-game and he declared that he would score 50 points-and he actually did.
In the Big Strick Classic at the Bronx, Jackson exploded for 50 points against competent opposition and his dominance almost reduced the game into an exhibition. SB Nation had links to the video.
ESPN had a coaches' poll on the no.1 player and Jackson still finished third. The lowdown was that "he's an elite defensive player and his passing vision is extremely underrated. He's not a great shooter and is more of a straight-line driver, but he's unbelievable in transition and impacts the game in so many ways."
There are limitations to his game and athleticism, even as dominant as Jackson's can only take one so far in the next level. This is why college choice is integral for his development. Almost all major programs have declared interest for Jackson. He has yet to narrow down his choices but is reportedly being selective with his visits.
A report from MLive confirmed that Jackson did visit Michigan State University. Jackson's mother, Apple Jones said that the Spartans were one of the five schools working the hardest to recruit her son. She also shared admiration for coach Tom Izzo.
"Michigan State was good," she said. "Coach [Tom] Izzo. I think he's a good coach. He cares about the kids and playing in his system. Those kids seem to develop."
Encouraging words for the Spartan faithful. Jackson is also a Detroit native so they do have "homecourt advantage." Let's see if it will translate into a commitment.