UNC leading scorer Jackson enters NBA draft
Justin Jackson leaves UNC after junior season to enter NBA draft
North Carolina junior Justin Jackson has decided to declare for the NBA draft and sign with an agent, forgoing his final season of college eligibility.
Jackson tested the NBA draft process a year ago, but decided to return to Chapel Hill as he helped lead the Tar Heels to the national title. He also significantly improved his NBA stock, going from a likely second-rounder to a possible lottery pick, according to several NBA executives.
ESPN Insider Chad Ford rates Jackson as the No. 27 player on his list of top 100 draft prospects.
"I thank God, my coaches and teammates and the University of North Carolina for giving me this extraordinary opportunity," Jackson said in a statement released Thursday morning. "My family and I discussed my decision with Coach [Roy] Williams and we agree that declaring for the NBA draft is best for my career.
"I wouldn't trade anything the last three years as a Tar Heel, especially getting the chance to win a national championship, which was unbelievable. I feel I made a good decision last year to come back for my junior year. That has put me in a much better position as a basketball player and a person. I'm proud to know I will always be a Tar Heel."
Jackson led the Tar Heels in scoring at 18.3 points per game, and also set the school single-season record with 105 3-pointers. Jackson was told by NBA personnel a year ago to improve his shooting range, and he went from a 29 percent 3-point shooter and made 37 percent of his shots from beyond the arc this season.
"We're excited for Justin and proud of the way he conducted himself each day in leading our team to a national championship," Williams said. "Justin explored his draft options after his sophomore season but understood it was in his best interest to play another season of college basketball, and what a year it was for him and our team.
"He did what our coaches and the NBA people advised him to do -- get stronger and work on making more shots. He responded by investing a tremendous amount of his time in the offseason and came back to school a bigger, better and more confident player."
Justin Jackson leaves UNC after junior season to enter NBA draft
North Carolina junior Justin Jackson has decided to declare for the NBA draft and sign with an agent, forgoing his final season of college eligibility.
Jackson tested the NBA draft process a year ago, but decided to return to Chapel Hill as he helped lead the Tar Heels to the national title. He also significantly improved his NBA stock, going from a likely second-rounder to a possible lottery pick, according to several NBA executives.
ESPN Insider Chad Ford rates Jackson as the No. 27 player on his list of top 100 draft prospects.
"I thank God, my coaches and teammates and the University of North Carolina for giving me this extraordinary opportunity," Jackson said in a statement released Thursday morning. "My family and I discussed my decision with Coach [Roy] Williams and we agree that declaring for the NBA draft is best for my career.
"I wouldn't trade anything the last three years as a Tar Heel, especially getting the chance to win a national championship, which was unbelievable. I feel I made a good decision last year to come back for my junior year. That has put me in a much better position as a basketball player and a person. I'm proud to know I will always be a Tar Heel."
Jackson led the Tar Heels in scoring at 18.3 points per game, and also set the school single-season record with 105 3-pointers. Jackson was told by NBA personnel a year ago to improve his shooting range, and he went from a 29 percent 3-point shooter and made 37 percent of his shots from beyond the arc this season.
"We're excited for Justin and proud of the way he conducted himself each day in leading our team to a national championship," Williams said. "Justin explored his draft options after his sophomore season but understood it was in his best interest to play another season of college basketball, and what a year it was for him and our team.
"He did what our coaches and the NBA people advised him to do -- get stronger and work on making more shots. He responded by investing a tremendous amount of his time in the offseason and came back to school a bigger, better and more confident player."
He may go first round, definitely not lottery tho. Berry needs to get ready to come on back too. I don't even see him being drafted.