Josh Jackson has impressed coaches and scouts alike as he trains with the USA U19 team in Colorado Springs, Colo.
6-8 Josh Jackson is a special player. For HS guy, he has a great motor & major athleticism. Shooting stroke coming, too. @usabasketball
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) June 17, 2015
The 6-foot-8 wing out of Prolific Prep (CA) is on his third go-round with USA Basketball and is hoping to make the final cut and head to the U19 World Championship in Crete, Greece that runs June 27-July 5.
“It’s the best feeling ever to win a gold medal,” he told SNY.tv by phone. “I know what it feels like and most of the guys here know what it feels like as well. Everybody here’s willing to do whatever they can to have that feeling again.”
Jackson, who is ranked the No. 1 shooting guard in the Class of 2016 by 247Sports.com reiterated that he has no plans to end up overseas instead of college.
“No, it’s not true at all,” he said, reiterating comments he made to The Sporting News.
In terms of colleges, Jackson said, “Working the hardest [are] probably Arizona and Kansas.”
He broke down his thoughts on each.
“Kansas is a great program,” he said. “They always have a great team year in and year out. I love Bill Self, he’s a great coach, and I like the way they play. They always have a real athletic team that can run out in transition, and I feel that’s the best part of my game.”
As for Arizona, he recently took a visit and likes them, too.
“Recently I just came off an unofficial visit to Arizona, I want to say last weekend,” he said. “It was just a great place, lovely weather, great people, great environment.”
Jackson is also getting an up-close look at Arizona coach Sean Miller, the head coach of the U19 team.
“Coach Miller is actually the head coach of the USA team right now,” Jackson said. “Just being in practice with him, I can get a feel for how he is as a coach and his style of play and what he likes to do, and so far I like everything about him.”
A Michigan native, Jackson said he’s also being recruited by Maryland, UNLV, Michigan State, Kentucky and Duke “a little bit.”
He said he holds offers from all of them.
Jackson has no timetable on a decision.
“Whenever I feel I’ve found the right school for me, I’ll decide,” he said. “I’m not waiting on anything.”
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