Oregon forward Luke Jackson
is a rarity in this year’s draft. The experienced Oregon senior stayed
in school for four years and finds himself as one of the few four-year
veterans surrounded by high schoolers, Europeans, and college
underclassmen. In an age where staying four years almost lowers a
player’s draft prospects, Jackson is hoping his versatile game will
propel him into the upper tier of the 1st Round of the Draft.
The 6’7” small forward had a
monster senior season, finishing as the Pac 10’s only player in the top
10 in scoring, rebounding, and assists. For the season he averaged 21.2
points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Some might want to compare “Cool
Hand Luke” to another former Pac 10 star of similar race and build in
former UCLA star Jason Kapono, but that assumption would be inaccurate.
Although both are tall, white swingmen, Jackson isn’t a one-dimensional
three-point assassin like Kapono. His deadly behind the arc stroke (44
percent 3-point percentage) is but one weapon of his diverse game. His
unselfish arsenal of skills includes the court vision of guards much
smaller than he and the rebounding prowess of much larger players.
Throughout his collegiate career, Jackson has always been the player
throwing the extra pass to garner a nice assist, sacrificing his body
for dirty work, or taking a game over with his scoring. His two career
triple-doubles are evidence of this,as are his All-Pac 10 and
All-American honors. If there is a weakness to his game it is his lack
of athleticism that prevents him from being a lock down defender or a
pogo stick slasher. He might struggle early matching up to the NBA’s
quicker swingmen.
The two-time Oregon
High school Player of the Year could’ve left school early like his
teammate point guard Luke Ridnour. Instead he stayed to enjoy a
tremendous individual season that has him poised to be one of few senior
first round locks in the coming draft along with St. Joseph’s guard
Jameer Nelson and BYU center Rafael Araujo.
CHN’s latest mock draft has him going 22nd overall. Like
Nelson and Araujo, his fourth year investment is looking like it will
pay dividends.
