The junior wing declared for the 2017 NBA Draft on Thursday, choosing to forgo his final year of eligibility. This is a change from last year when he tested the waters at the NBA Combine before refining his game in the offseason to continue with North Carolina.
His decision is a smart one. After scouts told him to improve his shooting and consistency following last year’s combine, he hit 105 three-pointers to set a UNC single-season record and scored 18.3 points per game — the highest mark by a Tar Heel since Tyler Hansbrough in 2009.
It’s hardly been a secret that Jackson — who won ACC Player of the Year and earned consensus first-team All-American honors in 2016-17 — could bolt this offseason. But the 6-foot-8 wing’s departure leaves a gaping hole in North Carolina’s lineup.
After playing fourth fiddle last season, Jackson scored 20 points in nearly half of UNC’s games this year and reached double figures in all but three contests.
While Jackson’s postseason performance seemed like a relative letdown — nine missed three-pointers leave a lasting impression — the Tar Heels wouldn’t have won it all without him. The junior led his team in scoring and assists through six NCAA Tournament wins, outpacing his season averages in both, and his three-point play against Gonzaga secured UNC’s final lead of the year.
But North Carolina doesn’t have a ready-made replacement in the locker room.
Joel Berry is an early favorite for ACC Player of the Year if he returns for his senior season, which seems likely for the 6-foot point guard. But it would take a Jacksonian offseason for the shoot-first Berry to settle his streaky play. Theo Pinson — the third wheel from UNC’s potent recruiting class of 2014 — will likely assume the small forward spot next season, but he can’t match the scoring prowess of Jackson or Berry.
North Carolina fans have been clamoring for five-star prospect Kevin Knox since he first showed interest in UNC. As the No. 8 recruit in the nation, the 6-foot-8 forward seems like the natural heir to Jackson’s throne. But only two first-years averaged more points per game this season than Jackson: potential No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz (23.2) and Kentucky sharpshooter Malik Monk (19.8). Even if Knox is the answer, it remains a question whether the Tar Heels can court him to Chapel Hill.
