Kentucky center Isaiah Jackson scouting report: Should Raptors, Thunder be interested?

Isaiah Jackson scouting report: Strengths

Shot-blocking and interior defense

Jackson’s 2.6 blocks per game are impressive, but they are downright astonishing when you consider the fact he was only on the court for half of the game at Kentucky. When extrapolated out to 40 minutes per game, Jackson is averaging a double-double with a ridiculous 5.0 blocks per game.

A gifted shot-blocker with a 7-5 wingspan that will send shivers down the spine of anyone foolish enough to challenge him in the paint, Jackson’s slender frame belies the fact that some of the SEC’s best big men were locked in hell whenever Jackson decided to body them down low.

With a non-stop motor, Jackson will be able to step right onto an NBA court and cause problems for some the game’s best young bigs.

Rebounding

Defense alone won’t get Jackson drafted that high, but he can also make a name for himself as one of the best rebounders in the conference. Jackson was eighth in rebounds per game in the conference, but his rebounds per 40 minutes rate (12.7) was the highest among all players in the SEC last year.

When you have the length that he does and the explosion off of the floor, it’s easy to rebound as well as he does. A top-shelf athlete, Jackson will be a rebounding machine if that trait is developed properly.

Athletic ability

Jackson’s ability to fly to the rim on offense helped make him one of Kentucky’s few competent players last season. Running the floor like a guard seven inches shorter, Jackson has become a solid scorer on off-ball motion plays.

That athleticism is clearly outweighing the production, as scoring eight points a game rarely gets you top lottery consideration. NBA teams looking to take on an athletic ball of clay could find their match in Jackson, who could create matchup problems for defenses due to his maneuverability.