Just some old articles and stuff on Jackson...
Four-star soph Vance Jackson takes trip to UConn (1/19/2014)
With Tyler Dorsey out for St. John Bosco (Calif.) on Saturday night, the Braves needed someone else to step up next to Daniel Hamilton on the offensive end.
Sophomore Vance Jackson had no issue being that guy, scoring 26 points and grabbing eight rebounds to help lead Bosco to a victory against St. Frances Academy (Md.).
Ranked No. 52 in the 247Sports Composite for the class of 2016, Jackson has several different ways to score. The 6-foot-7 wing has terrific range and consistency on his jumper, and creates problems for defenders due to his combination of size and shooting ability.
Immediately after the victory on Saturday, Jackson and teammate Daniel Hamilton left to drive down to Connecticut's game against Louisville. Hamilton is committed to the Huskies for next season, and they are also pursuing Jackson.
“Their tradition. Kevin Ollie,” Jackson said when asked what he likes about UConn. "I watch them play on TV as many times as I can."
FUTURE STAR: Vance Jackson (1/23/2014)
Jackson, a tremendously gifted 6-8 forward, performed very well at the esteemed City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers last month where THI was able to personally evaluate him over the course of several games.
The long-armed Jackson showcased high levels of versatility. He was a star from the three-point line, stroking shots from all around the arc. He was armed with a quick trigger, an exceptional step-back move and a high release point that was tough to defend. He also scored in the paint and rebounded at a high level.
His game, was remarkably similar to ex-UNC and current NBA forward Danny Green.
From the pure outside stroke to the efficient help-side defense and blocked shots. He did so many things well from so many spots on the floor.
The Rivals.com four star prospect has a goal to play the wing forward on the next level and he eyes Kevin Durant as one of his role models.
"I think I'm a small forward because of how I can handle the ball and shoot. I want to make sure that I'm not just working on my shooting though, I have to get better in all aspects of my game. I want to add some post moves to my game and I have been working on that a lot too," he said in an interview with TarHeelIllustrated.
His recruitment is already being played at a high level.
"UConn , Arizona, USC, Arizona State, UCLA, Washington, Kansas -- those schools have been coming hard. There are more and I know I am forgetting some right now.
The North Carolina staff is aware of Jackson and don't be surprised to see the UNC coaches dropping by to watch him play this spring and summer.
Jackson says that the doctors project him to grow to 6-10, as his growth plates are still open. The 16-year old is driven by the early attention and he wants to expand his game.
Pangos Takeout: Vance Jackson (6/3/2014)
Jackson does one thing very well and various other things reasonably well. His foundation has been and likely will remain a feathery jump shot. He possesses range to 24 feet and looks comfortable from the corner, uncommon even among pure shooters. He deftly finds room on the perimeter and buries shot after shot to stretch defenses.
Even if Jackson never develops into an athletic dynamo, he'll enjoy opportunities with major conference programs based solely on his shooting. But he also appears to have a nice understanding of halfcourt offense — to the extent it's possible or advisable to assess that trait in a camp setting — and is a solid handler and passer.
My primary question pertains to his ultimate position. He doesn't possess great lateral quickness and, at 6-7, has the height to become a stretch four-man. His frame is solid and if he adds enough muscle to it, he may have no choice but to make the transition into the post. And if that happens, he'll need to become more physical and aggressive as a rebounder and defender.
Fortunately for him, nearly all collegiate programs now will accommodate a stretch four. In the past that role loomed as an oddity and specialty category, but no more. Jackson's position looms significant in terms of how college coaches like to assemble a given recruiting class, but his effectiveness and ultimate projection should largely remain unchanged even if he can't stay on the wing.
By way of comparison, his development and trajectory appear similar to that of 2015 forward D.J. Hogg from a year ago, and Hogg himself — who straddles the wing/stretch line — appears to have at least an outside shot of becoming a prep All-American next spring.
Jackson Switches it up (4/5/2015)
In the past, the 6-foot-8 forward from Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco has simply been content to keep letting shots fly from deep whether he was hitting or not. The No. 30 player in the junior class, Jackson wasn't one to scrap around the hoop. That was in the past, though, and it looks like he has turned over a new leaf.
Friday night, his shot wasn't really falling from deep so Jackson took his game inside, pounded the glass and made 15 trips to the free throw line during an impressive 25 point and 10 rebound performance in his Dream Vision team's come from behind win over Team Rose.
"I'm a known shooter so people are going to try and shut me down on that," Jackson said. "So I have to get to the rim if I'm missing my shots. It hurts us if I'm missing and keep shooting from deep so I have to get to the inside."
It doesn't hurt that Jackson is notably stronger thanks to maturity. He hasn't hit the weights yet, but once he starts doing so it should help with his explosion in traffic. It's not like he needs a lot of help, though.
