NBA Draft Big Board 1.0: Cunningham, Mobley, Suggs, And The Best Of The Rest

29. Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky

Measurables: 6-foot-10, 206 pounds, 7-foot-5 wingspan

Class: Freshman

Age: 19

Mike’s Ranking: 22

Evan’s Ranking: 38

There might not be a prospect that has gotten a bigger push up draft boards based on athleticism and the fact that he played at a high-profile school than Isaiah Jackson. It’s true, he has great athleticism, has shown flashes of a promising faceup game, and for a player his size, that should bode well for his future potential in the NBA. Although, there are true red flags that could (or perhaps should) force him to be drafted late in the first round or even push him to the second.

Jackson may be a great athlete but has not progressed on either side of the ball to suggest that he should be a lottery pick. He doesn’t shoot 3’s, has inconsistencies on the defensive side of the ball overall (he averaged 2.6 blocks per game, mostly due to his athletic ability to recover or help around the rim), and isn’t much of a playmaker at this point in his development.

Jackson could very well be a great player down the line, but he didn’t pop or flash much during his freshman season at Kentucky and that should reflect on his draft position.