Justin Jackson’s return solidifies North Carolina as a top 10 team
Twelve days after forward Kennedy Meeks elected to withdraw from the NBA draft, North Carolina received more good news.
Forward Justin Jackson has pulled his name from draft consideration and opted to return to school.
“After discussing it with my parents and coaches and praying over this decision, the best choice for my basketball future is to return to school and play for the Tar Heels next season,” Jackson said Monday in a release from the school.
“My dream certainly is to play in the NBA and going through the draft process this year was another step toward reaching that goal, but I’ve loved my first two years at Carolina and am excited about the upcoming season. It’s going to be a fun year. I will be another year closer to earning my degree and can continue to develop as a person and a player.”
Jackson started at small forward the past two seasons for a North Carolina team that reached the Sweet 16 in 2015 and lost at the buzzer in the national title game last month. The 6-foot-8 junior-to-be averaged 12.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists this past season, but concerns about his lack of strength and inability to consistently sink outside shots hurt his chances of being a first-round pick this June.
In two scrimmages at last week’s NBA draft combine, Jackson sank just five of his 14 attempts from the field. Realistically that probably sealed his decision to return to school.
Coming back to North Carolina could be a wise choice for Jackson because the Tar Heels appear poised for another strong season and he has a chance to assume a bigger role.
With All-American forward Brice Johnson and standout guard Marcus Paige both graduating, Jackson is the obvious choice to inherit the responsibility of being North Carolina’s go-to threat. The Tar Heels will surround him with a talented starting five that could include promising juniors Joel Berry and Theo Pinson in the backcourt and Meeks and Isaiah Hicks in the frontcourt.
Duke will be the favorite in the ACC entering next season, but North Carolina could be the Blue Devils’ top challenger now that Jackson and Meeks are returning. With no underclassmen leaving early, the Tar Heels at minimum have the look of a preseason top 10 team.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
