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ELITE ’14 PROSPECT JUSTIN JACKSON HAS BUSY SUMMER OF HOOPS AHEAD

Texas is not just a hotbed for college football prospects any more. The Lonestar State is a burgeoning power in produciton of high-level college basketball prospects. Class of 2014 prospect Justin Jackson is one of the latest elite level talents to come out of Texas and much of the country’s elite programs are already very interested in the 6-foot07, 180-pound small forward who runs with the Houston Hoops AAU program.

Jackson has been impressive already on the AAU circuit participating in the highly competitive Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, helping Houston Hoops get out to a 12-2 record through the first three legs of the circuit. As the team’s second leading scorer (13.1 points per game) and adding 5 rebounds a contest, Jackson has shown his versatile offensive game, knocking down three-pointers at an impressive clip (38%) and mixing in athletic finishes at the rim, offensive putbacks and mid-range jumpers to shoot 56% overall from the field through 14 contests. Jackson cherishes his opportunity with Houston Hoops to compete in the high level Nike league.

“I play for the Houston Hoops [on the AAU circuit],” Jackson said. “The best part is just being on one of the elite programs in the country and I’m enjoying my teammates this year.”

Jackson will be in Oakland (CA) this weekend to finish off the preliminary rounds of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League. While the EYBL shuts down until the July open evaluation period when the Peach Jam will serve as the league’s championship game, Jackson will remain very busy in his basketball travels with a very flattering opportunity to tryout to represent his country.

“I’m looking forward to the USA trials in June,” he told NBE Sports yesterday. “I have also been invited to the Kevin Durant and Lebron James camps, but it all depends on if I make the USA team.”

Just being a Class fo 2014 prospect, Jackson is still in the early stages of his recruitment as he listed no favorites and told NBE he is still open in the process. The top programs in the country are already lining up and making their intentions know on how heavily they plan to recruit him.

“I have been offered by Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Washington, Ohio State, Georgetown, Virginia [and] Virginia Tech,” noted Jackson. “Others that are recruiting me are Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Illinois, Stanford, Florida, Michigan, and some others.”

Jackson tells NBE that he feels his offensive game is his strongest aspect currently. He considers himself an all-around player and will continue to work on areas to continue to make him a well-rounded basketball player in all facets of the game.

“I’m trying to improve on my quickness and lateral movement for defense,” he said. “I’m also trying to get stronger, which will help in a lot of areas of my game.”

Jackson also stresses how important education will be in his ultimate college decision. Currently Jackson is home schooled and plays his winter basketball with Home-school Christian Youth Association, a foundation that was put together to give Houston-area kids a place to play basketball and interact with other kids that are home schooled. Last season Danrad ‘Chicken’ Knowles was a teammate of his with HCYA.

“I’m looking for a coaching staff that I have good relationships with, good academics and good tradition [in a college],” said Jackson.

NBE will continue to monitor the progress of Justin Jackson throughout the summer as this elite Class fo 2014 prospect will undoubtedly attract a list of who’s who among college basketball coaches at events he is playing in when the summer evaluation period gets underway in July. Get to know this young man…he will deliver a complete package to one lucky school in the future!

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