Wednesday Where Are They Now?: Luke Jackson, Oregon

Ever wonder what happened to those college stars that couldn't catch on in the NBA? The guys that put up the great numbers or the guys that left early, and were never heard from again? Every Wednesday, we at BIAH will take a look at a former college star that never made it in the NBA, and we will update you on where he is playing or what he is doing. We're guessing the results will surprise you. To request a player, hit us up on twitter @ballinisahabit or via email at contactbiah@gmail.com.

Luke Jackson, Oregon

Luke Jackson was a two-sport star at Oregon's Creswell High, playing basketball and baseball. But after winning the Oregon Class AAA player of the year twice (in 1998 and in 2000), leading his team to the 2000 state title, and becoming the fourth all-time leading scorer in the state (2,095 points), Jackson correctly made the decision to pursue basketball.


Jackson would head to Oregon, where the Ducks would struggle mightily his freshman season. Jackson would eventually work his way into the starting lineup, showing flashes of how good he could be. He averaged 7.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, and 2.0 apg, including a 14 point, 11 rebound, and 10 assist triple-double against Washington, but the Ducks finished the year just 14-14, winning only five games in Pac-10 play.

But that 2000-2001 Oregon team showed some potential, and they lived up to that potential in 2002. While Jackson was blossoming into one of the best all around players in the country -- as a sophomore, he averaged 16.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, and shot 40% from deep -- senior Fred Jones was turning himself into a lottery pick while fellow sophomore Luke Ridnour was slowly making a case as one of the best point guards in the country. Oregon would go on to win the Pac-10 regular season title and make a run to the Elite 8.

Jones would become a lottery pick after the season, but with Ridnour and Jackson still sharing a backcourt, the Ducks were still a dangerous team. After an up and down regular season, Oregon finally clicked during the postseason, winning the Pac-10 tournament and earning an eight seed. They were knocked out in the first round by Utah, but Jackson's 16.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and 3.6 apg were enough to get him recognized with a second straight all-Pac 10 selection. He was the only player in the league in the top ten in points, rebounds, and assists.

Ridnour, who won the 2003 Pac-10 player of the year award, left early for the draft and ended up in the lottery, which meant that Jackson would finally become the focal point for Oregon, and he didn't disappoint on an individual level. Jackson averaged 21.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 4.5 apg, and shot 44% from long range to earn all-america first team honors. He recorded the second triple-double of his career against Florida A&M, making him just the third player (Jason Kidd and Loren Woods) in Pac-10 history to do so. A stat sheet stuffer, Jackson finished ranked in the top ten in nine different statistical categories in Oregon history, and became just the second player in Pac-10 history to amass 1,900 points, 700 rebounds, and 400 assists.

Gaudy numbers, no doubt. Gaudy enough to get the 6'7" lefty picked tenth by Cleveland in the 2004 draft. He lasted for two seasons with the Cavs, but was never really able to break into the rotation, playing in just 46 games combined. After the 2006 season ended, Jackson was traded with a bunch of cash to Boston in exchange for Dwayne Jones, essentially signifying his status as a draft bust, at least in the eyes of the Cleveland front office.

For what its worth, the "bust" label isn't completely fair, as Jackson has dealt with injuries, especially with his troublesome back which has required two surgeries.

Jackson would bounce around the NBA and the NBDL over the next three seasons. In 78 games over the course of three years playing with the Idaho Stampede of the D-League, Jackson averaged 15.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, and 4.0 apg while knocking down an impressive 43.6% of his triples.

It was enough to land Jackson a few cups of coffee in the league. He played three games with the Clippers in '06-'07 before joining Toronto later in the season. He performed well enough with the Raptors to earn a second ten-day contract and then a contract for the rest of the season. He was waived during the off-season by Toronto, but he caught of with Miami in December of the 2007-2008 season. He lasted 14 games and two months with the Heat before he headed back to Idaho and the D-League.

Heading into the 2008 season, Jackson had turned 27, and most teams realized that he had probably reached his full potential. After spending a year in the D-League without getting a shot in the NBA, Jackson decided to head abroad, playing for Carife Ferrara in Italy's top club league. He averaged 15.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg in his one season, good enough to earn himself a spot on this year's Atlanta Hawks summer league team out in Vegas.

Jackson didn't put up gaudy numbers in that summer league, but he did draw some praise for his smarts and his ability to keep the floor spread.

Arguably the biggest news regarding Jackson is that not only is he now married, but he is expecting a son in September. As of now, Jackson is still unsigned for the upcoming season, but based on this interview, it seems unlikely that he will be heading overseas with a newborn.