Jaren Jackson Jr. has not made a decision on whether he will return to Michigan State basketball for his sophomore year or enter the NBA draft. Jackson’s father, Jaren Jackson Sr., said there is no timetable for his son to make the decision other than before the 11:59 p.m. April 22 deadline.
Source: Detroit Free Press
I don’t think anyone expected Miles Bridges to stand in front of the Sparty statue again this spring and announce he was returning to Michigan State for his junior season. He had to go this time. There was nothing left for him to do at Michigan State that he couldn’t get done at the next level. He’s a physically and emotionally mature 20-year-old, whose game is still developing. It’ll develop fine at the next level.
Source: Lansing State Journal
One of Michigan State basketball’s potential early departures made it official Wednesday, as sophomore Miles Bridges announce that he will be declaring for the 2018 NBA Draft and hiring an agent. Bridges, who would have been a possible lottery pick after his freshman season, came back to Michigan State for his sophomore season and will now pursue his pro career a year later than most players of his caliber.
Source: Spartan Tailgate
With the win-or-go-home nature of the NCAA Tournament, a championship isn’t guaranteed. For a player chosen in the lottery, a more than $1 million contract is guaranteed, which is why Bridges and Jackson should leave for the draft.
Source: The State News
Izzo also said there’s a meeting scheduled for later this week between him, Jaren Jackson and Jackson’s family to talk NBA Draft decision. If he decides to enter the 2018 NBA Draft, he is projected to be a top-10 pick.
Source: Land of 10
Michigan State’s run in the NCAA Tournament run ended well before the Spartans expected it to. The question now is if the run is over for at least a couple of underclassmen who are potential lottery picks if they declare for this summer’s NBA Draft.
Source: Detroit News
Jaren Jackson Jr. was on a team bus in Chicago last week when it was first brought to his attention.One of the Michigan State freshman forward’s teammates showed him what appeared to be his likeness on the cover of Sports Illustrated and asked if it was real.”I’m like, no, they didn’t tell me I was going to be on it,” Jackson recalled Thursday afternoon. “That’s fake.”
Source: MLive.com
There was no hesitation for Jaren Jackson Jr. The Michigan State freshman believes his Sports Illustrated cover is much better than teammate Miles Bridges’. “Me or Miles?” Jackson said. Me. You see the cover? Come on, man. I mean his was cool with the mascot but I had like everybody and their mom around me.”
Source: Spartans agree: Jaren Jackson has No. 1 Sports Illustrated cover
Michigan State fans may be seeing the last of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges in the NCAA Tournament this month and next month. And if recent NBA mock drafts are to be believed, they may be seeing a pair of future lottery picks, including one future top-five pick.
Source: MLive.com
Michigan State freshman Jaren Jackson Jr. is projected to be the No. 3 overall pick, by the Atlanta Hawks, in a new NBA mock draft by ESPN (pay site). “The youngest prospect in the draft, Jackson may have the highest ceiling of anyone in this class in terms of his ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor,” writes ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. “It’s easy to see Jackson manning the center position for Atlanta or pairing with exciting rookie big man John Collins in an athletic frontcourt.”
Source: Detroit News
Recap of Wisconsin and celebration of Outright Big Ten Title. Preview of Big Ten Tournament. Special Guest: Freshman Forward Jaren Jackson Jr.
Source: Spartan Sports Network
Michigan State forward Jaren Jackson Jr. was selected as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year by the conference’s media and coaches, the Big Ten office announced on Monday, Feb. 26. Jackson was also selected to the All-Big Ten Third Team and was a unanimous selection to the All-Freshman Team.
Tom Izzo knows he will be saying farewell to three seniors. He also realizes Michigan State also could lose two key players soon. Tum Tum Nairn, Gavin Schilling and Ben Carter know the No. 1 Spartans’ game against Illinois will be their last at Breslin Center on Tuesday night. It might be the same for sophomore Miles Bridges and freshman Jaren Jackson Jr., both of whom could leave MSU early for the NBA draft.
Source: Detroit Free Press
The NBA Draft is still a little over four months away, however, with the best talent in college on display, experts are already trying to figure out who will go where. Both sophomore Miles Bridges and freshman Jaren Jackson Jr. are expected to get drafted somewhere in the NBA lottery, among the first 14 picks. As everyone knows, a lot can change between now and July (thanks Miles!), but here is where experts think the Spartans will be headed.
Source: The Only Colors
Michigan State blows out Minnesota behind 27 points from Jaren Jackson Jr. MLive.com
By the time Cassius Winston swished a 3-pointer while falling over after a foul, it was clear that this was going to be Michigan State’s night. By the time the game was over, the Spartans had gotten off to its best start in program history.
Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State’s 87-57 win at Minnesota Lansing State Journal
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts on the Spartans’ 87-57 win Tuesday night at Minnesota.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Michigan State basketball dazzle Minnesota, 87-57
Detroit Free Press
Cassius Winston swished a 3-pointer. And then another. And another. Jaren Jackson Jr. drained a 3-pointer. And then another. No. 1 Michigan State kept making one after another from deep, hitting 10 3-pointers in the first half and coasting to an 87-57 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday night at Williams Arena.
‘Special player’ Jackson leads MSU in rout over Minnesota Detroit News
Jaren Jackson Jr. didn’t want to face any more questions about getting into foul trouble. The Michigan State freshman has seen his playing time hampered severely at times this season — the last five games, especially — as his propensity to foul early and often has left him on the bench instead of making an impact on the court. On Tuesday night at Minnesota, Jackson showed why it’s so important.
No. 2 men’s basketball destroys Minnesota on the road State News
It just kept coming. It started with three straight 3-pointers from point guard Cassius Winston. Then forward Jaren Jackson Jr. knocked down two straight shots from deep. The Spartans (25-3, 13-2 Big Ten) kept making one 3-pointer after another and hit 10 shots from deep in the first half to ease past Minnesota (14-14, 3-12) 87-57 at Williams Arena on Tuesday night.
Jackson’s Career Night Leads No. 2/1 Michigan State Past Minnesota, 87-57 MSU Official
Freshman forward Jaren Jackson Jr. poured in a career-high 27 points and No. 2/1 Michigan State hit 14 3-pointers en route to an 87-57 win over Minnesota in a Big Ten Conference men’s basketball game at Williams Arena Tuesday night.
Izzo appreciates Engler’s backing on ESPN report Detroit News
On Tuesday afternoon, Michigan State interim president John Engler criticized a recent ESPN report that questioned how the MSU basketball and football programs have handled cases of sexual assault and violence toward women. In a letter to the Michigan State community, Engler defended basketball coach Tom Izzo and football coach Mark Dantonio, calling the report “a sensationalized package.”
Couch: Jaren Jackson separates Michigan State from most of the best of college basketball Lansing State Journal
When Tom Izzo talks about his team’s raw talent, when opposing coaches mention Michigan State’s high ceiling, they’re talking about one thing, or person — Jaren Jackson Jr. He’s the raw talent with the most room to blossom. He’s the ceiling that’s so dang high.
Jaren Jackson sets career-high for points on foul-free night MLive.com
Jaren Jackson Jr.’s box score line on Tuesday night featured plenty of impressive numbers: a career-high 27 points, 5-for-8 3-pointers, three blocks. Perhaps the most impressive number, though, was a zero in the column for personal fouls.
Nick Ward turns it around in 2nd half of Spartans’ win over Minnesota Detroit Free Press
It was nine frustrating minutes for Nick Ward, followed by nine dominating minutes. Michigan State’s enigmatic sophomore forward shook off early fouls and turnover problems to score 11 of his 13 points in the second half of the No. 1 Michigan State Spartans’ 87-57 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday night. “The first half, I was a little frustrated,” Ward said. “I always say to myself, ‘It’s a new half, just act like it’s the beginning of the game and a fresh start.’”
Jaren Jackson Jr. delivers career night as No. 1 Michigan State off to program-best start Detroit Free Press
Cassius Winston swished a 3-pointer. And then another. And another. Jaren Jackson Jr. drained a triple. And then another. The No. 1 team in the nation played like it Tuesday. And set another record along the way.
Jackson scores career-high 27 in MSU’s 87-57 win over Minnesota Spartan Tailgate
Michigan State jumped out to a big lead with a 3-point barrage in the first half and extended it by dominating inside in the second on the way to an 87-57 road win over Minnesota on Tuesday in Minneapolis.
Jaren Jackson Jr. was one of 10 players selected as a candidate for the 2018 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. Named after Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its fourth year recognizes the top centers in men’s college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in October, which has now been narrowed to just 10.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has a chance to be the best big man in the 2018 NBA draft. He’s certainly the best two-way player of the bunch right now, better defensively than Deandre Ayton and Marvin Bagley III and better offensively than Mohamed Bamba. Jackson fits the new prototype for NBA centers: He knocks down 3s, protects the rim, and defends the 3-point line.
Source: The Ringer
Michigan State men’s basketball player Jaren Jackson Jr. was named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week on Monday after his performance during games last week. This is the fourth Freshman of the Week nod this season for Jackson, who also took the honor on Jan. 15, Dec. 11 and Nov. 27. Jackson ties Nick Ward (2016-17) for fourth on the list of most Freshman of the Week awards in one season.
