Isaiah Jackson flew under the radar due to the Kentucky Wildcats’ disappointing season, but he’s now quickly flying up draft boards for good reason.
Isaiah Jackson 2021 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Jackson committed to Kentucky as a five-star prospect out of high school. That’s not a surprise as Kentucky is a hotbed for top talent, but the team’s 2020-21 season was disappointing as a whole. Jackson, however, was one of the shining stars.
In 25 games, 18 of which were starts, Jackson averaged 8.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. This all came on just over 20 minutes on the floor per game.
Jackson was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and All-Defensive team. He also led Kentucky in blocks, rebounds, field goal percentage (54 percent).
Strengths
Shot-blocking. That stands above and beyond as Jackson’s top strength. He’s an excellent rim defender and will bring this to the NBA.
Overall, Jackson simply thrives on defense. He’s strong down low, can guard other bigs, and is also an excellent rebounder.
The defense is there and will be his bread and butter. Jackson, however, is very athletic and plays with a high motor. NBA teams will love to build on his offensive potential, and he has all the tools to be a great two-way player.
Weaknesses
Jackson’s weaknesses come in his underdeveloped offensive game. At only 19, there’s plenty of time to work on this.
He’s not a floor stretcher by any means, and may not ever develop into a three-point threat. With that being said, he can add a midrange and improve his free-throw shooting.
His athleticness helps him on defense, but he needs to add strength on offense. He sometimes struggles in the post and in traffic, so bulking up is a necessity.
NBA Comparison
Jackson projects as Bismack Biyombo, but at the same time can evolve into a better offensive player. At worst, Jackson is going to consistently be a top shot-blocker and rack up a ton of rebounds.
2021 NBA Draft Projection
Jackson has the potential to sneak into the late lottery, but he projects as a mid-first-round pick.
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