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

[Oh8ch]

The order in which offers are handed out to the kids in the 2007 class should be interesting.

The other thing that gets interesting - and something we have dealt with only sporadically in the past - is early departures (just ask UNC). If 1) the age rule does not go into effect (and to a lesser extent even if it does), 2) we get the Thad Five (or even Four), and 3) they all actually attend college it will very tough to predict how many schollies we have to offer in any given year. It will be nice to have guys like Jackson who might hang around to see if ships open up at the last minute.

My head is still spinning trying to figure out how to think about basketball recruiting in the Matta era. This is so dramatically different from the days of hoping Obie might hang in there with even one blue chipper. Heck, I didn't even follow BBall recruiting closely because it got to depressing.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

rivals.com$

5/25/05

Jackson is considered a top 100 player nationally in his class. Last year he put up 11.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 3.2 steals per game while shooting 57 percent from the floor. Ohio State is his leader and he is also interested in Kentucky, Michigan, N.C. State, Xavier and Dayton. Xavier has offered at this point. He pretty much stated that if OSU offered he would accept on the spot, especially if Matta is able to land Oden and Conley.

[HabaneroBuck]

Dante Jackson will be competing for the state championship in the Division II track finals this weekend. He won his regional in the 110 M High hurdles and the 300 M hurdles.

Event 4 Boys 110 Meter Hurdles
================================================== =====================
Stadium: # 14.30 5/14/1996 Rusty Fry, River
Regional: $ 14.05 5/1999 Julius Wallace, Martins Ferry
Name Year School Finals Points
================================================== =====================
Finals
1 225 Jackson, Dante 10 Greenfield 14.50 10


Event 16 Boys 300 Meter Hurdles
================================================== =====================
Stadium: # 37.90 5/25/2005 Dante Jackson, Greenfield
Regional: $ 37.87 5/1991 Maurice Jordan, Martins Ferry
Name Year School Finals Points
================================================== =====================
Finals
1 225 Jackson, Dante 10 Greenfield 37.90# 10

Setting the stadium record and coming within 3/100ths of a second of the regional record in the 300 is pretty impressive for any basketball player running track, but especially as a sophomore. For comparison, Brian Hartline won his regional with times of 14.07 in the 110 and 36.97 in the 300. Hartline pretty much smoked everyone else in his regional, though....

[HabaneroBuck]

Dante representin'

Originally Posted by OHSAA

Event 4 Boys 110 Meter Hurdles 39"
================================================== ==========================
State Meet: % 13.71 1996 Lamar Hill(Dayton Christian)
Name Year School Finals Wind Points
================================================== ==========================
Finals
1 Greg Keys 12 Bellevue 14.34 0.5 10
2 Steve Love 12 Alliance 14.45 0.5 8
3 Jared Martin 12 Clyde 14.59 0.5 6
4 Dante Jackson 10 Greenfield 14.61 0.5 5

Event 16 Boys 300 Meter Hurdles 36"
================================================== =====================
State Meet: % 36.83 2003 Austin Wechter(Shelby)
Name Year School Finals Points
================================================== =====================
Finals
1 Jared Martin 12 Clyde 37.53 10
2 Jeff Hileman 12 Versailles 38.42 8
3 Dante Jackson 10 Greenfield 38.57 6

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Jackson is definetly an athlete with those numbers...

[wadc45]

After seeing those numbers, I hope more than ever that we eventually offer Dante...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

rivals.com$

6/22/05

At the Ohio State basketball team camp this past week....Greenfield (Ohio) McClain and Jackson participated and Dante came away impressed with the staff and Coach Matta.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com$

6/24/05


Jackson has an offer from Xavier at this point. Ohio State has not offered yet, but they are at or near the top of his list of schools. He loves the staff and coach Matta. He believes the Buckeyes are on the verge of something big.....(please see Oden and Conley's threads )

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Not much new with Dante, he will participate in the camp in Las Vegas later this month.

Lamb speculates that he could possibly get an offer during the event....

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Jackson has not received an offer and according to Lamb on BN, he feels that OSU really likes Jackson but he will most likely not get an offer.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ScoutHoops.com$

7/30/05

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Dante Jackson stole the show with his late game heroics as the first day of the playoffs concluded at the AAU Nationals.

Apparently, Jackson had quite a game at the AAU Nationals....he hit three consecutive three pointers late in the game. Hit a layup off a steal with .6 seconds left to seal the win.

(Matta was on hand to watch Jackson's game)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com

8/4/05

Tidbit about Jackson and the possiblity of an offer from OSU.....

Dave what is your opinion on Dante Jackson? I think he should be offered already, sounds like a great guard with height to go with Koufos and Dallas. Where does he rank nationally overall and in terms of guards?
Dave Telep (Aug 3, 2005 2:31:39 PM)
Jackson certainly opened my eyes at the AAU's. I don't agree, I would not offer him right now but I would move him up the watchlist and continue recruiting him. His shooting spree at the nationals was witnessed by Matta toward the end of the game. He's a potential National Top 100 guy right now but guys in the region (Gordon, Legion, Tucker, Summers) are much better prospects at this juncture. Credit Jackson, he was great in Orlando and deserves more attention but an offer might be a little early for him. Need more information

[Redlegs]

The word we're getting in his hometown is that Matta told Jackson that he would not be offering him a scholarship to attend OSU. Apparently, he was told that he didn't have the size or strength to compete for what could be an amazing class of Freshman in '07. I'd take this with a grain of salt considering the boy is still growing and continues to get much stronger.

He's got all of the other Ohio schools looking at him heavily and Michigan is recruiting him hard as well. Let's hope he continues his dominant streak from last year and changes Mr. Matta's mind.

[OSU_D/]

I am sure you have your sources around town, but something isn't right. He doesn't have the size? According to scout he's the same height as both Cook and Lightly......only 5 lbs less than Cook but the same as Lightly.....and he's a year behind in age.

[Redlegs]

Originally Posted by OSU_D/

I am sure you have your sources around town, but something isn't right. He doesn't have the size? According to scout he's the same height as both Cook and Lightly......only 5 lbs less than Cook but the same as Lightly.....and he's a year behind in age.

I agree man. I would say he's still growing as well. I do know Matta told Jackson that he couldn't do a two step dunk. Now, that's not going to be a reason to not offer a kid a scholarship but it's a valid point.

I also know that Xavier's coach told Jackson that he was the #1 man they were recruiting. He told Jackson that other teams might have him at #3 and then later tell him he's #1, but he is the guy they want. They are really on him heavy. I think Jackson still has OSU in his heart though.