'07 OH PG/SG Dante Jackson (Xavier Verbal)

[deeustin89]

Jackson wouldnt get off the pine at OSU til Cook/Lighty were gone. He's decent at alot of things but not great enough at any one thing that Matta would be forced to play him, such as Diebler is with his shooting. IMO Dante is better off to go somewhere else. I've seen him play close to 20 times in the last couple years and IMO he's just not on the level of recruits OSU is pulling in these last couple classes

[Redlegs]

Did Dante even show up at the OSU football camp this weekend? I've yet to find a picture, 40 times, or anything at all for that matter from him.

[buckeydoptimist]

I was interested in Dante' when I thought it would be very difficult to be able to sign another top wing with Cook, Lighty and Diebler as young talents already on board. But since Tyus and Turner have shown genuine interest, I guess there is no need to look "lower" at a less-elite prospect in this case.

Sure would like to see coach Tressel offer him now!

[calibuck]

Hey Deeustin - as you've seen Dante play more than I have (easy to do), do you think he's got the chops to be the defensive stopper? There's alot of firepower on board, and only one basketball to go around.........

I'm thinking of being the "Hondo Havlicek" of this team(s), and being the 'shutdown corner' on the other team's big scorer. Hondo made his mark that way, and went on to be a top 10 lifetime scorer in the NBA (go figure), while the big guns (Lucas, Siegfried, Nowell, Bobby Knight) didn't have the NBA careers that were expected of them (all except Knight of course).

It seems like Dante's got the a) desire to be a Buckeye; b) athletic ability to play; c) does he have the desire to remake his game to be what the team needs? (defensive stopper)? I see Lighty becoming that person with the Oden, Cook, team, but still would really like to see Dante with an offer to become a Buckeye. Do you (or anyone else out there) think he could fill this role? Or maybe more importantly, does Coach Matta think so?

Let's enjoy this ride of basketball excellence, it'll be fun!

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I have been singing his praises for awhile, but unfortunately, unless he gets an offer for football, I don't see him at tOSU.

[smitty03]

I have been singing his praises for awhile, but unfortunately, unless he gets an offer for football, I don't see him at tOSU.

I agree with 100%, the Turner verbal pretty much sealed the deal on his basketball recruitment at tOSU. Who knows, maybe he can turn some heads this year in football.

[Warren Raider]

How about bringing him in as a point guard.

[korchiki]

we already have conley coming in to take butlers spot...then we have someone in 08 already...its not gonna happen...but i do want to see him on the football field

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dante is a great kid and an excellent athlete, in a typical year for OSU basketball, he would have gotten an offer, but things have changed. I still maintain he can be a high major prospect in BB.

[LitlBuck]

I still want Dante to be a Buckeye. He loves us so we should give him some love. If he is not good enough to play, he still would be an excellent guy to have on the team.

[Muck]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

If he is not good enough to play, he still would be an excellent guide to have on the team.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I still want Dante to be a Buckeye. He loves us so we should give him some love. If he is not good enough to play, he still would be an excellent guy to have on the team.

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Unfortunately, the scholie is not there now. He will be a good player for a high-major program.

Also, please change your font to Verdana 2....thanks. My eyes hurt.

[buckeydoptimist]

If TM is not willing to keep an offer on the table to a T35 prospect like Tyus, then there is no way he'd stretch to a much more marginal project like Jackson. We have plenty of wings now with Turner and Diebler after Cook and Lighty in back-to-back classes as is.

Again, I think Tress should offer him as a WR/SFT, he's such a good athlete he could help the FB team more at this point.

[LitlBuck]

I guess my point regarding Jackson is that he will be a 4 year player at Ohio state while most of the other wing players might be going after 2-3 years and after a few years in college who knows how good Jackson might become. In addition, he is an excellent scholar athlete.

[deeustin89]

CaliBuck, i cant see Dante being a defensive stopper for a couple reasons. #1 is despite the fact that he's a state champion hurdler, Dante doesnt have incredibly quick feet. he'll get beat to the spot by a quick player and is kinda long and gliding in all of his motions. And #2, he lacks great physical strength to be able to be a shut down defender. if you look at guys that are traditionally great defensive players and excel in that shutdown role, they usually have one of these two things, if not both. and right now, Dante has neither. So that would limit his ability there. Dante plays for a great defensive minded coach in Rick Van Metre and yet in all the times i've watched them play in the last few years Dante hasnt ever done anything to make me notice him on that end of the floor. but he does however rebound the ball very well for a guard/wing. I know alot of it is they want to keep him out of foul trouble. Dante will be a great pickup as a scorer and versatile wing who can do a little of everything on the offensive end for a lower/mid level big conference team. I'm talking about teams in the power conferences who arent neccessarily championship contenders. I've seen him alot and as versatile an athlete he is, he's not an explosive athlete. Leaping ability, change of direction quickness, and things like this are not his strong points. I'm just not sold on his ability to play at that highest level like most everyone else around this area is.