The latest Josh Jackson crystal ball prediction on 24/7 Sports shows Kansas 68%, Michigan State 18%, Arizona 14%. So all is lost for MSU and Zona, right?
Well, what about that famous video with “future member of the Arizona Wildcats…Josh Jackson..”
https://twitter.com/JordanKobi/status/714513001399918592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“That’s a joke I wouldn’t worry about that,” said Miles Bridges, a very close friend of Jackson’s, in this exclusive with The Sports Bank, Bridges has maintained all along that he knows where Jackson will sign, and that he’s going to keep it hush hush.
“I know where he’s going but I’m going to let him announce,” said Bridges (who we profiled here)
But did Bridges already give it away?
ICYMI, .@Graham_Couch on Miles Bridges' verbal pause heard round the recruiting world: https://t.co/3Vj3AKTlWl
— GreenandWhite.com (@LSJGreenWhite) March 31, 2016
Here’s the gist of that Lansing State Journal article:
Miles Bridges definitely paused when speaking about Josh Jackson. Perhaps he caught himself. Maybe it was nothing. Probably nothing. It might have been something.
Welcome to “Josh Jackson Decision 2016.” This is what it’s coming to — analyzing the verbal pauses of Michigan State’s other incoming recruits for clues as to what Jackson might decide. Check that: has decided…The question to Bridges was about how much he’d played and worked out with his future teammates. Not specifically the other incoming freshmen, but that’s the way Bridges took it.
“I play with them every all-star event, because we’re just trying to get to know each other,” Bridges began. “I play with Cassius (Winston) all the time. I try to work out with him when I’m at home. And Josh Jackson, too. Like I try to get him to …(pause) … come to Michigan State.”
His cadence changed. He was rolling along, lumping Jackson in with Winston as a future teammate before realizing he was close to giving away a secret. Or that’s not at all what happened, and he was simply distracted or naturally speaks with odd pauses.”
So why all this over-analysis and hyper-analysis and meta analysis about one single future potential “one-and-done?” Excuse me, one single future potential “Succeed and Proceed!”
Jackson is rated the top overall recruit by both Rivals and 24/7. Scout ranks him second and ESPNU third. NBA Draft.net has him going first overall in their 2017 NBA mock draft while Draft Express has him third overall. For what it’s worth, Joshua Langford is very high on MSU’s Josh Jackson chances, and #TheClass overall)
Here’s the link to the first Josh Jackson piece that we did a few days ago, see if you can read anything more in between the lines in that one. The decision has already been reached in Jackson’s heart and mind, and it will come when he’s at home surrounded by family and friends.
(Related: very early 2016-17 Michigan State season preview)
Josh Jackson has said that will be after the Nike Hoops Summit on April 9th. In the meantime, here’s what MSU’s roster will look like next year, ahead of a potential Josh Jackson commitment.
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Deyonta Davis (So)/Gavin Schilling (Sr)/Nick Ward (Fr)
F: Miles Bridges (Fr)
G/F: Matt McQuaid (So)/Josh Langford (Fr)
SG: Eron Harris (Sr)/Alvin Ellis (Sr)/Kyle Aherns (So)
PG: Lourawis Nairn (Jr)/Cassius Winston (Fr)
Gone: SG-Denzel Valentine, C-Matt Costello, SG-Bryn Forbes, F-Corey Wallenman, F-Marvin Clark (transfer), F-Javon Bess (transfer)
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram