Isaiah Jackson (basketball)

Isaiah Ju'mar Jackson (born January 10, 2002) is an American basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Isaiah Jackson
Jackson with the Indiana Pacers in 2022
No. 22 – Indiana Pacers
PositionPower forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2002-01-10) January 10, 2002 (age 22)
Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeKentucky (2020–2021)
NBA draft2021: 1st round, 22nd overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–presentIndiana Pacers
2021; 2023Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Career highlights and awards
  • SEC All-Defensive Team (2021)
  • SEC All-Freshman Team (2021)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

High school career

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As a freshman, Jackson played basketball for Lutheran Northwest High School in Rochester Hills, Michigan. He moved to Old Redford Academy in Detroit for his sophomore season.[1] As a junior, Jackson competed for SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio alongside LaMelo Ball and his Old Redford teammate Rocket Watts.[2] He averaged 14.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. For his senior season, he transferred to Waterford Mott High School in Waterford, Michigan.[3] Jackson averaged 19.1 points, 13 rebounds and 7.7 blocks per game as a senior.[4] He was named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster.[5]

Recruiting

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Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals, Jackson committed to playing college basketball for Kentucky over offers from Alabama and Syracuse.[6]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Isaiah Jackson
PF
Pontiac, MI Waterford Mott (MI) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Nov 16, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 89
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 28  247Sports: 34  ESPN: 34
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Kentucky 2020 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  • "2020 Kentucky Wildcats Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 9, 2021.

College career

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On December 1, 2020, Jackson recorded seven points, 12 rebounds and a career-high eight blocks in a 65–62 loss to seventh-ranked Kansas at the Champions Classic. He had the most single-game blocks by a Kentucky player since Willie Cauley-Stein in 2013.[7] As a freshman, Jackson averaged 8.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and an SEC-high 2.6 blocks per game, earning SEC All-Defensive and All-Freshman Team honors.[8] On March 17, 2021, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.[9] He later signed with an agent, forgoing his remaining eligibility.[10]

Professional career

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Indiana Pacers (2021–present)

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Jackson was selected with the 22nd pick of the 2021 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers and then traded to the Indiana Pacers.[11] On October 23, he made his NBA debut, scoring one point in two minutes of action during a 102–91 overtime win over the Miami Heat.[12] On January 31, 2022, Jackson logged a career-high 26 points, alongside ten rebounds and two blocks, in a 122–116 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.[13]

Jackson tore his Achilles tendon on November 1, 2024 against the New Orleans Pelicans, ending his season.[14]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Indiana 36 15 15.0 .563 .313 .682 4.1 .3 .7 1.4 8.3
2022–23 Indiana 63 12 16.5 .563 .143 .651 4.5 .8 .5 1.5 7.2
2023–24 Indiana 59 3 13.1 .665 .000 .716 4.0 .8 .6 1.0 6.5
2024–25 Indiana 5 1 16.8 .609 .500 5.0 1.0 .6 1.6 7.0
Career 164 31 14.9 .595 .206 .671 4.3 .7 .6 1.3 7.1

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2024 Indiana 15 0 10.2 .535 .611 3.2 .5 .2 .9 3.8
Career 15 0 10.2 .535 .611 3.2 .5 .2 .9 3.8

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Kentucky 25 18 20.8 .540 .000 .700 6.6 .7 .8 2.6 8.4

References

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  1. ^ Purcell, Jared (November 16, 2019). "Isaiah Jackson commits to Kentucky, video highlights 'making it out' of Pontiac". MLive. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  2. ^ Goricki, David (June 18, 2019). "Waterford Mott's Isaiah Jackson, a top MSU target, returns as nation's No. 3 power forward". The Detroit News. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  3. ^ Purcell, Jared (December 13, 2019). "Finally home, 5-star Isaiah Jackson lifts Waterford Mott basketball to new level". MLive. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Tucker, Kyle (November 25, 2020). "His anger channeled, Isaiah Jackson is already turning heads at Kentucky". The Athletic. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  5. ^ Moore, Deb (February 16, 2020). "Four UK MBB Signees Selected for Jordan Brand Classic Game". University of Kentucky Athletics. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  6. ^ Borzello, Jeff (November 16, 2019). "Kentucky Wildcats get commitment from No. 22 recruit Isaiah Jackson". ESPN. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "Kentucky-Kansas Postgame Notes". University of Kentucky Athletics. December 2, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "Isaiah Jackson named to SEC All-Freshman and All-Defensive teams". WYMT-TV. March 9, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "Kentucky Wildcats' Isaiah Jackson to test NBA draft". ESPN. March 17, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  10. ^ Givony, Jonathan (May 28, 2021). "Kentucky freshman Isaiah Jackson, ESPN's No. 11 prospect, to keep name in NBA draft". ESPN. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  11. ^ "Pacers Acquire Isaiah Jackson". NBA.com. August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  12. ^ "BRISSETT HELPS PACERS PULL AWAY FROM HEAT IN OVERTIME". NBA.com. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  13. ^ "JACKSON'S BREAKOUT GAME SENDS PACERS PAST CLIPPERS 122-116". NBA.com. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  14. ^ "Pacers lose center Jackson to torn Achilles". ESPN.com. November 3, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
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