Live Scouting: Kansas signee Elmarko Jackson at the National Prep Showcase

New Haven, Connecticut – On3 was on hand for two Elmarko Jackson games at the National Prep Showcase at Albertus Magnus College. The 2023 On3 150 No. 17 player averaged 13.5 points and 3.5 assists with 1.0 steal per game through the event.

The four-star point guard’s South Kent (CT) School team went 1-1, dropping to Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy and coming back to beat Pittsburgh (PA) First Love Christian.

Let’s dive into the Kansas signee’s game and how it might translate.

Jackson as a playmaker

This is the aspect of Elmarko Jackson’s game that improved the most over the summer. Playing with the We R 1 program on the UAA Next Circuit, Jackson consistently showed pace and vision. The game appeared to slow down for him.

This summer, Jackson played a lot out of the pick and roll, where his 0.813 points per possession ranked in the 88th percentile among his peers. The play with his travel program was free-flowing and open-ended.

With his high school team, during this viewing, he runs more sets and called plays.

Jackson had seven assists to eleven turnovers in his two games at the National Prep Showcase. The turnovers happened with missed connections within the play call. He was either not on the same page as his teammate or trying to go too fast and not allowing the play to develop.

In transition, Jackson has always been good, both as a scorer and a playmaker. He has great balance with the ball in his hands and is able to stop and cut quickly and absorbs contact with this frame. Jackson has good vision in the open floor if his scoring lane is cut off.

Jackson is still developing his overall feel as a playmaker. There are certain natural aspects to his game as a creator, reads that are instinctive, especially when able to read and react in the pick and roll. His high school coach is Raphael Chillious, who was a long-time college coach, expect developments of all facets of Jackson’s playmaking to continue, particularly within structure.

Jackson’s physical traits

Elmarko Jackson’s frame pops immediately. He is listed at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds. He has long arms, broad shoulders, and a physical frame.

Jackson has high-level speed on the ball. At the risk of sounding redundant, I want to reiterate with the ball in his hands, he is one of the faster players in the country. He is also an explosive two-foot jumper; in years past, Jackson was more physical than most players and used his speed and burst and only played at that speed. Where he has developed the most over the last twelve months is in changing speeds.

Jackson’s physical tools are among the best in the country and part of the reason why his ranking is so high. His continued growth in harnessing his physical tools has been huge in his development.

Jackson as a scoring threat

Elmarko Jackson’s speed has gotten him a lot of buckets in his career. In transition, he is like a lightning bolt, and that continues. Jackson has an array of finishes in the open floor, with an assortment of side-steps and euro-steps to keep the defender off balance.

The jump shot is where questions lie. Jackson was 2-for-6 on the weekend from three. This is in line with the 32.7 percent he shot this summer. Jackson is more comfortable shooting off the bounce, from range, than he is off the catch. His form can get a little mechanical, with his release coming from in front of his face, pushing his elbow out at times.

While the three-point shooting is an area he is improving, the mid-range jump shot is something he will have to continue developing. I have not seen many pull-ups, floaters, or many shots from the middle area of the floor from him.

Jackson is tough to defend with his fame, burst, and change of pace. When he plays out of the pick and roll, the reads he is making have been good as well. The jump shot is developing, becoming a weapon, and he needs to continue to work on the mid-range. When he entered college, former Kansas Jayhawk Devon Dotson had some similar questions and tools.

Jason Schofield is intriguing

The 6-foot-8 junior plays with a hot motor, and it is his effort that leads to most of his production. Jason Schofield has a physical frame with long arms and passer-friendly hands. His touch extends beyond the three-point arc, and he is an active area rebounder.

In his two games at the National Prep Showcase, Schofield finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 three against IMG and 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 three, and 1 block against First Love. Schofield, a junior, claims offers from Illinois, Bryant, Stony Brook, Marist, Albany, and others. He is currently unranked in the 2024 On3 150.

Cleaning out the notebook

Papa Kante (Michigan) – The 6-foot-10 four-star center struggled on the offensive end. He never found his footing or comfort level in the spots he was asked to score the ball. However, he was very good on the boards and with his post defense.

Trey Boyd – Boyd is a 6-foot-3 available senior. The smooth shooting guard has deep range and confidence. South Kent uses him to space the floor. NJIT is currently his only offer; there is some growing buzz around him.