Duke guard Frank Jackson will keep his name in the NBA draft and not return to Durham for his sophomore season. Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news.
Duke’s Frank Jackson will stay in NBA draft
Jackson will join teammates Jayson Tatum and Harry Giles as the latest one-and-done Blue Devils.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
A 6’3 combo guard at the college level, Jackson averaged 10.9 points per game for Duke in 2016-17. After an up-and-down first two months of the season, the former five-star recruit emerged as one of the Blue Devils’ top performers in February and March. Over Duke’s final nine games, Jackson averaged 14.9 points and upped his shooting percentages from every spot on the floor.
Despite his late season production, Jackson has been viewed as a fringe first-round pick by most NBA draft experts, leaving his decision as one of the most interesting among all potential draft picks. Jackson may have made the final decision for himself on Thursday at the NBA Draft Combine, turning in one of the most impressive performances of the day during the 5-on-5 portion of the afternoon.
The potential addition of five-star point guard Trevon Duval to the Duke roster may have also had an effect on Jackson’s decision. Duval’s presence would allow senior Grayson Allen to return to his natural spot off the ball, resulting in fewer offensive opportunities for Jackson. Duke also has guards Gary Trent, Alex O’Connell, Jordan Goldwire, and Jack White joining the fold in 2017-18.
Jackson was not a first-round selection in SB Nation’s most recent NBA mock draft.
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