Andre Jackson Testing the NBA Draft Waters: ESPN | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Andre Jackson Testing the NBA Draft Waters: ESPN

Already thought before the season that Hawkins, Sanogo and Jackson were leaving. So I will put in my mind he’s leaving. We need more guys in the NBA and he won us a national championship best of luck.
 
He's projected mid-second round. He should stay. He'll definitely be a 1st rounder next year and the difference in money is big.
 
His athleticism is already 1st round quality.. Even top 10-15 level .. He'll kill it in the pre-draft setting on that alone.. The worst that happens is that he gets a blueprint from the feedback to position himself for a big pay day in 2024 and he comes back to fine tune some things.. The best that happens is he gets some guaranteed first round money takers and can work on any skill deficiencies at the next level..

Always thinking the OKC organization with their UConn connections at HC can be/could be an outlier willing to go with first round money.. Time will tell.. Tear it up Andre.. Good luck..
 
So would say picture is starting to get clearer on next year, castle/newton/timberlake/karaban/clingan could be starting lineup with ball and stewart off the bench on the perimeter. Then at big man we have johnson and singare in reserve, would be nice to add another big boy in case singare and johnson dont have the juice. As sad as I will be to see jackson leave, I actually think timberlake may be a better fit in that starting lineup, will have plenty of playmaking and adding a bit more shooting could be good.
 
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3rdbass said:
I still can't see him being guaranteed a first round since he is a such a bad shooter, also can't create his own shot, and the game has evolved to where that is a hard thing to overcome but if anyone can it would be AJ with his skillset. He is doing the smart thing testing it out. It would be foolish if he didn't as he was showing in some mock drafts in the first round after the tournament.
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Just can’t see how he’s a lock 1st rounder with that shot. Get how amazing all his other attributes are, but NBA is a put the ball in the basket proposition and he just doesn’t do that.
 
REB1094 said:
He’s going to open a lot of eyes at the combine scrimmages. Best of luck Andre, and UConn nation will support whatever decision you make!
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Yup. He will dominate. His motor is unrivaled.
 
So to be clear, Jackson is gone next year…
Unless he isn’t. :rolleyes:

I actually am pretty confident that someone will pick him up give him his incredible athleticism and selfless personality. This is a case of workouts being his friend. As impressive as the kid is on television, in person, is athleticism is jaw-dropping. It’s a smart move, though, to keep his options open.

I genuinely wish him all the best. He is a terrific kid, who absolutely “bleeds blue.”
 
I know some here seem to think he won't get a guarantee - and you may be right. But I can see a team taking him in the late first round. He's a tremendous athlete, tremendous passer and tremendous defender. That provides value.

I'm still hoping he returns. He has other areas where he can vastly improve. He'll never be a great shooter, but he can start scoring around the rim more and creating for himself. I think he can play himself into the lottery next season.
 
Doing it this way also covers Hurley in the sense that he can ultimately leave it to other people to tell Andre to come back or not.
 
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tcf15 said:
Just seems like the kind of guy who kills it during the pre-draft process. I'm sure some team picking at the end of the first round will fall in love with him.
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Athletically and as a person he'll for sure kill it but he's the type of player you really see his value during games as a connector. Making the right read, doing something instinctually and athletically that nobody else can do. The question is does a team love his film, athleticism, and him as a person enough to overlook his deficiencies which will most likely show in the individual and three on three workouts.

It seems like one of those situations where whatever happens benefits Andre and UConn.
 
Palatine said:
Watched the Sun/Clippers the other night. And Westbrook reminded me of Dre. All over the court with elite athleticism, tremendous energy, high level defender, incredible passer, tough rebounder, but RW had a really tough night shooting (3-19) and the Suns left him uncovered at the arc. His line was very DRE-like. 9 pts, 11 boards, 8 assists. His team won.

Westbrook is 6-3, 200 to AJ's 6-6, 210. You might find this series an interesting watch.
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Despite a bad shooting night, RW is light years ahead in shooting. I hope I’m wrong, but Dre will have problems getting his shot off In the nba. Maybe he changes his technique over the summer.
 
Stinger92860 said:
Despite a bad shooting night, RW is light years ahead in shooting. I hope I’m wrong, but Dre will have problems getting his shot off In the nba. Maybe he changes his technique over the summer.
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He is not light years ahead of him as a shooter. Russ is literally the worst 3pt shooter in NBA history with a minimum of 3000 attempts, and he’s kind of progressively getting worse.
 
2nd rounders can still get guaranteed contracts. from last year's draft:

31. Indiana Pacers: Andrew Nembhard, G, Gonzaga: Signed
  • Four-year, $8,583,166 contract. First three years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option
32. Orlando Magic: Caleb Houstan, F, Michigan: Signed
  • Four-year, $8,207,150 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
33. Toronto Raptors: Christian Koloko, F/C, Arizona: Signed
  • Three-year, $5,239,563 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed.
34. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jaylin Williams, C, Arkansas: Signed
  • Four-year, $8,207,150 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
35. Los Angeles Lakers: Max Christie, G, Michigan State: Signed
  • Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
37. Dallas Mavericks: Jaden Hardy, G, G League Ignite: Signed
  • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed.
38. Memphis Grizzlies: Kennedy Chandler, G, Tennessee: Signed
  • Four-year, $7,127,014 contract. First three years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
44. Golden State Warriors: Ryan Rollins, G, Toledo: Signed
  • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed.
45. Minnesota Timberwolves: Josh Minott, F, Memphis: Signed
  • Four-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
57. Portland Trail Blazers: Jabari Walker, F, Colorado: Signed
  • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First year guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed.
 
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BGesus4 said:
Would be malpractice to not at least see if he’ll be a first rounder
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he goes if he is a second rounder. Second round picks are much more valuable these days with Two way contracts. And, to sign second rounders you don’t need cap space or an exception anymore.
 
Can't blame him for trying the waters at all. It is best for him to hear the blunt truth at what, if anything, he needs to work on.
Watched the Sun/Clippers the other night. And Westbrook reminded me of Dre.
Wow - not the young Westbrook for sure and not even the current Westbrook - just not the same type player. Not the same body type, handle, ball control. Westbrook is not an efficient 3 pt shooter but is streaky, his release is hard to block and can shoot in tight spaces.
He will play basketball somewhere for money - better yet, he should consider being a WR in football.
He's a great young man and things will work out for him.
 
CardiacAndre7 said:
He is not light years ahead of him as a shooter. Russ is literally the worst 3pt shooter in NBA history with a minimum of 3000 attempts, and he’s kind of progressively getting worse.
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Guys. Jackson will take open set shot 3s in the corner. Or he won’t. He isn’t going to be drafted to be a scorer. He will be drafted to do what he does.
 
REB1094 said:
He’s going to open a lot of eyes at the combine scrimmages. Best of luck Andre, and UConn nation will support whatever decision you make!
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He's going to open eyes both positively and negatively. Yes, his all around court awareness and athleticism will surprise people. On the other hand, while scouts will be expecting that all he has is a poor set shot from the 3 point line, his total inability to either have any semblance of a mid range jumper or to be able to take someone off the dribble and attack the rim are likely to also surprise them.

So we'll have to see. That having been said, obviously I want him back, and our chances of being a conference champion go down significantly without him, but he's played hard for three years and is absolutely entitled to do whatever he feels is best for him.
 
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superjohn said:
Needs to be guaranteed by a team they're taking him with their first round pick, like get it in writing.

Otherwise it doesn't make any sense to leave with what we know about the kid.
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Totally wrong there.

He can get picked 50th and sign a two way deal or even a 3 year deal. That’s what the G League and new CBA are allowing. Nba is much more developmental than past year.

They now have 17 roster spots, 2 2-ways. Almost all second round picks who are drafted will end up on two ways if they are not even signed to a full contract outright.

The days of cut second round pick are essentially over.
 
A possible positive of NIL is
a kid who doesn’t get a guaranteed contract can make as much or more money staying in school than playing in the G League or in most overseas opportunities . That’s especially true of kids who leave because their families need financial assistance.
My fear of paid college athletes has always been worry about the destruction of the kid bettering their situation by utilizing athletics to just simply get an education. That’s been a wonderful tool for many years.
 
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businesslawyer said:
He's going to open eyes both positively and negatively. Yes, his all around court awareness and athleticism will surprise people. On the other hand, while scouts will be expecting that all he has is a poor set short from the 3 point line, his total inability to either have any semblance of a mid range jumper or to be able to take someone off the dribble and attack the rim are likely to also surprise them.
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Think if he comes back that would be the most important part for him. Kemba’s game went to whole new heights once he got the midrange game down because guys legit could not play off him at that point. It’d be the same for Andre.
 
Phoenixhusky said:
If you get the guaranteed money if a first round pick, you leave. It’s smart testing the waters.
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especially after the fact that he was a key contributor to a national championship. A player really can't leave on a higher note than that, or at least it is difficult to do so.
 
Without Jackson what are our expectations for next season?
 
Gonna remind me of Byron Jones: pure athleticism will increase his status (plus he comes in with more hype)
 
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