Michigan basketball: A significant 2023 offer & one to watch closely
Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard and his staff continue to dole out 2023 offers. The latest is a four-star guard who is playing extremely well … and he has strong U-M ties.
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Elmarko Jackson, nephew of former Michigan All-American defensive back Marlin Jackson, continues to play well after an outstanding spring. He is now shining at the NBA players’ association camp, per On3.com, which has ranked him No. 61 nationally. The industry consensus has him at No. 100.
“Elmarko Jackson has seen a bump in his recruitment over the last couple of weeks,” On3.com’s Jamie Shaw wrote. “On3’s No. 61 player has recently earned offers from Kansas, LSU, Virginia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Syracuse, Maryland, and others.
“The 6-foot-3, 200-pound point guard is jet-quick with the ball in his hands, but his pace is what shined here. He has a quick burst in the half-court and plays balanced, off two feet in the paint. He can also finish on top of a late rotating big, which he did several times during camp. After playing at the NBPA Top 100 camp, On3 feels confident ranking Jackson higher than the industry.”
Jackson was named the On3 Awards Most Valuable Player of the UAA Session 1 after dominating in the paint. St. John’s, Seton Hall, Maryland, VCU, and Cal were the programs he was hearing from most at the time. Now, almost everyone is involved — including Michigan.
“I am a point guard, Jackson told On3. “I try to make the game easier for everyone on the floor with me. We have a good team, with a lot of talent. It is my job to make sure the ball is moving, and everything is working within the flow of the offense.
“Last year I turned the ball over more than I wanted. Now the game is slowing down. I can make all the reads; I’ve been putting in a lot of work. I watch a lot of Donovan Mitchell and his footwork and Kyrie Irving with his crafty finishes.”
Michigan has been watching the Richland (N.J.) Academy of the New Church standout closely. Jackson finished with 21 points in a spring game from the Under Armour circuit in Westfield, Ind. Michigan assistant Phil Martelli was courtside, as were several others. The Wolverines have turned it up since.
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He grew up a Michigan fan because of his uncle, making this one to watch closely. We expect him to visit at some point.
“Jackson is a physically developed lead guard with long arms and a strong frame,” Shaw wrote. “What stands out immediately is the absolute speed he has. Jackson gets from zero to sixty quickly and beats his man to the spots with the ball.
“Where he has improved is his change of pace and his jump shot. The 6-foot-3 guard was 3 of 4 from beyond the arc in this game. The On3 Consensus No. 70 player in 2023 looked like the four-star we have him ranked.”
He mentioned Michigan a lot in the spring, seemingly waiting for the Wolverines to pick up the interest.
“My uncle, Marlin Jackson, played football at Michigan and got drafted. He won a super bowl in the NFL,” he said. “I am looking for a family-oriented program, where they aren’t just there for basketball but more than that. Off the court and on the court, I want to go somewhere that cares for each other and values winning. I want to win.”
Watch for more on this development in the days to come …
