NBA Draft Profiles: Reggie Jackson, Boston College

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Stats: 18.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 42% 3PT, 2.4 t/o's

Age: 21, junior

Size:

• Listed: 6'3", 208 lb
• Official: N/A (He was injured and didn't attend the NBA combine)

Strengths: Jackson improved immensely as an individual over the course of his Boston College career, finishing his junior season averaging over 18 points, four assists, and four rebounds per game while shooting 42% from three. As a junior he was finally the focal point of the Eagle's offensive attack, which allowed him free range to shoot and create. While, at times, he struggled a bit with his shot selection -- especially when putting the ball on the floor -- part of that can be explained by the role he was forced to play on his team. While he did shoot 42% from beyond the arc this season, Jackson is probably at his best when he is attacking the rim. He's a flashy-but-controlled ball handler with some quicks and explosiveness when he puts the ball on the floor. He's a terrific athlete with a long wingspan (he was injured and didn't attend, or get measured, at the combine) that can finish above the rim. That athleticism and length is a part of the reason that Jackson is considered a potential lockdown perimeter defender.

Weaknesses: Jackson isn't exactly a pure point guard right now. Yes, he averaged 4.5 apg and had a nearly 2:1 a:t/o ratio. But that only means that he is a capable passer and playmaker. Jackson doesn't have the instincts to play the point. He's a guy that looks to get his shot first and can find an open man if help comes. Its possible to be successful playing with that mindset at the next level -- see Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose -- but Jackson probably doesn't have quite the upside of those three. Another issue with Jackson is that he doesn't quite understand how to use his athleticism around the rim. While he made Sportscenter a couple of times with impressive dunks, he struggles when he receives contact around the basket. That can be fixed with some added muscle in his upper body, but there is also something to be said for someone who plays up to his athleticisim. Jackson doesn't do that well enough.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Jrue Holiday. Very similar type build, athleticism, and game projecting to the NBA on both ends of the court. Neither were really ‘true PGs’ coming into the league, but Holiday has a done a fine job with the 76ers, which looks good for a game with a similar type game like Jackson. George Hill is another comparison I've seen that I think works here.


• Worst Case Scenario: Keyon Dooling. Not a bad player, but not a great one who ever lived up to his potential. Dooling has great quickness, athleticism, and some skills as a PG, but is primarily a hustle guy who can defend, which is what Jackson could end up if he doesn’t ever get much better.

Outlook: Jackson could end up being a starter in the NBA. He's improved quite a bit during his time at BC, and he has the tools -- athleticism, length -- to be an excellent defender at the next level. The key for Jackson is going to be how well he translates his game to being more of a pure point guard. He's not going to have free reign to take any shot he pleases at the next level. He is going to have to learn to be more of a stand-still, catch-and-shoot player and someone who is looking to create for others first. Jackson can create points offensively and he can prevent points defensively, which should mean that if he accepts and excels in his role at the next level, he should be able to hang around.

One thing that needs to be noted with Jackson -- he feasted on lesser competition as a junior. Against teams outside the RPI top 100, he shot 60% from the field, 50% from three, and had a 1.9:1 a:t/o. Against top 100 competition, Jackson shot just 42% from the floor, 35% from beyond the arc, and saw his assist numbers drop from 5.1 to 3.9 per game.

Draft Range: Mid to Late 1st Round

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "At first glance, Jackson appears to have the requisite tools to be a first-round pick who will stick around for years, unlike Troy Bell, the last BC guard to be drafted in Round 1 (16th overall to the Boston Celtics, traded to the Memphis Grizzlies) who played in only six games in his NBA career. Jackson is a spindly 6-foot-3 point guard who makes athletic plays above the rim and on the floor, and made 42 percent of his 3s this year, as he led his team in scoring and assists."


• Draft Express: "Though Jackson's point guard skills will be important to his pro prospect, his improved jump shooting has been the biggest part of his impressive play this season. A reliable threat to pull-up off the dribble in the past, Jackson has improved his shot selection considerably this season, taking far fewer off-balance shots and sticking to his mechanics with a hand in his face. Though Jackson has a long release that he quickens at times under pressure, he has been much more efficient in catch and shoot situations. His [42]% shooting from three-point range is a major improvement from the sub-30% mark he posted last season, even if he still needs to continue shoring up his footwork and consistency."


• Swish Scout: "Lanky, athletic point guard that has become a greatly improved perimeter shooting threat and an excellent defender on the wing. Still a raw, developing PG prospect who greatly needs to build muscle, wisen up on some of his shots, and refine his ability to run the point, but has great upside as a starter in the league among a meek 2011 NBA Draft field."

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Conference Play Primer: The ACC

Favorite: Duke Blue Devils

I'm not expecting too much of an argument on that one. Not only is Duke the No. 1 team in the country right now -- even without Kyrie Irving -- but the rest of the ACC has been just pitiful. People are legitimately discussing whether or not Duke has a chance to go undefeated this season, and I guarantee that there are more people that think Duke won't lose a game than think the Blue Devils won't win the ACC.


Player of the Year: Reggie Jackson, Boston College

There are a number of legitimate Player of the Year options in the ACC at this point in the season, but I'm going with Jackson. He's second in the conference in both scoring (19.2) and assists (5.0) while grabbing 4.4 rpg and shooting an obscene 50.9% from three. He's also been the catalyst in BC's resurgence under Steve Donahue, carrying the team to a 10-2 mark here early in the season, which includes a win on the road against Maryland in their ACC opener. As crazy as it may sound, BC might just be the second best team in the ACC. And Reggie Jackson is the reason why.

All-Conference Team:

• G: Nolan Smith, Duke: 17.1 ppg, 5.4 apg, 4.6 rpg
  
• F: Kyle Singler, Duke: 17.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg
  
• F: Chris Singleton, FSU: 14.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.1 spg, 2.4 bpg
  
• F: Mike Scott, UVa: 15.9 ppg, 10.2 rpg (takes Kyrie Irving's spot)
  
• C: Jordan Williams, Maryland: 18.2 ppg, 11.9 rpg
  

Biggest Surprise: Virginia Tech Hokies

Boston College has probably been the only team in the conference that has been a surprise in a positive way. Since I don't want to talk about the Eagles, I'll go the other direction. This was supposed to be Virginia Tech's year to breakthrough. With senior Malcolm Delaney leading this way, the Hokie's were going to have the supporting cast around the ACC Player of the Year as they gave Duke a run for their money atop the conference. That was the plan, anyway. Then Allan Chaney had a heart condition discovered, JT Thompson tore his acl, and Virginia Tech struggled through the non-conference portion of their schedule before finding out that Dorenzo Hudson, last year's leading scorer, would miss the rest of the season due to injury. Without a quality win, and with very few quality wins available in the ACC this year, it looks as if the Hokies will once again miss the NCAA Tournament.

Biggest Disappointment: Harrison Barnes

Since I'm not going to simply answer "the conference as a whole" (because that would be too correct accurate easy), I'll go with Barnes. Barnes has been far from bad this season. He is the Tar Heel's second leading scorer at 12.3 ppg, which, as an incoming freshman, is commendable. The problem is that with the hype bestowed upon this young man this season, "commendable" is not good enough. Barnes was named CBSSports.com preseason national Player of the Year and became the first freshman to ever be named an AP Preseason All-American. Its not his fault that he had this much hype coming in, but he certainly hasn't lived up to those expectations. Its not an issue of talent, it seems more to be an issue of confidence. Barnes is not playing as aggressive as many expected him to, and he certainly isn't shooting the ball all that well. There is still time for him to turn things around. Personally, I'm hoping he will; Barnes seems like a genuinely good kid.


Teams to keep an eye on:

• NC State: Don't write off the Wolfpack just yet. If you remember, last year's leading scorer and rebounder, big man Tracy Smith, is still out of the lineup with a knee injury he suffered early on in the season. With as much young talent as Sidney Lowe has on that roster, missing your best and most experienced player was expected to yield some growing pains.
• Florida State: Chris Singleton is probably the best individual defensive player in the country. With the Seminole's size, they are one of the best half court defensive teams in the country as well. Offense is their problem, as they don't seem to run anything at that end of the floor, but Singleton looked improved on that end at the Diamond Head Classic.
• Maryland: The Terps have talent on their roster, especially in the front court where Jordan Williams anchors an athletic front line. Their issue is in the back court. Two freshmen and Adrian Bowie have been sharing point guard duties, and it hasn't gone all that well. Maryland has four losses, but all four were winnable games that the Terps cost themselves with poor decision making down the stretch.
• North Carolina: There is just too much talent on this team to ignore. Will they put it all together? I don't know. But December is too early to write off a team with seven Burger Boys on the roster.
• Miami FL: Two great guards, a hoss in the middle, and a couple of athletes on the wing? What more does a team need in this conference?
  

Teams to forget about:

• Virginia Tech: Injuries and illnesses have just decimated this team's depth and talent level. Malcolm Delaney is a player, but there just isn't enough on this roster.
• Georgia Tech: The loss to Kennesaw State was bad, as that team as not won a game since then. But then three days before Christmas the Yellow Jackets went to Siena and lost to a Saints team that was without Clarence Jackson and that had a banged up Ryan Rossiter in the second half. Paul Hewitt is lucky he got the contract he did after that Final Four season.
  

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