UConn transfer, 6-8 Jackson, considering UNM and others
The Lobos men’s basketball team is still trying to make a big summer splash on the recruiting market. Vance Jackson certainly would qualify. The 6-foot-8 freshman transfer from the University of Connecticut, along with his parents and younger sister, arrived in Albuquerque Thursday night for a two-day recruiting visit with the University of New Mexico Lobos and first-year head coach Paul Weir.
“The coaches — they trust in me,” Jackson said of his draw to UNM. “We’re on the same page. They see a vision.”
That vision, Weir has said since his early April hiring, is to have a roster of versatility — run, pass and dribble at every position — and hard workers.
Jackson started 21 games for UConn, averaging 26.9 minutes, 8.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while hitting 39.7 percent of his 3-pointers.
Despite his size, Jackson said he feels himself more of a guard than a forward and attempted nearly twice as many 3-pointers (121) as 2-pointers (63) during the past season.
Jackson, who says his friend and former Lobo Elijah Brown talked up playing at UNM, says he’ll play anywhere on the court so long as he’s helping a team win.
“I’m a very versatile player,” Jackson said. “I can play any position. I can shoot the ball. I feel like I’m a mismatch nightmare for a lot of defenders who want to guard me. And I just want to win, too.”
Jackson has already made recruiting visits to Washington and San Diego State and visits Baylor next week. He’s also considering Rutgers.
He was a part of a highly-rated recruiting class for the Huskies in 2016 after averaging 21.7 points and 6.8 rebounds at Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif. One year ago, he was a four-star rated recruit by recruiting services Rivals, Scout and ESPN.
He will have to sit out one season per NCAA transfer rules and then have three seasons remaining to play, starting in the 2018-19 season.
Jackson said he hopes to make a decision with his parents about where he’ll transfer within a few days of next week’s visit to Baylor in Waco, Texas.
As of Friday, UNM had two open scholarships available for the 2017-18 season.
UGUAK’S NEW HOME: Loyola-Chicago announced Friday that Aher Uguak, the 6-foot-7 freshman wing who transferred last week from New Mexico, has joined its team. Uguak, from Edmonton, Alberta in Canada, averaged 1.2 points, 0.7 rebounds and 7.4 minutes in 19 games this past season for the Lobos.
He must sit out the coming season per NCAA transfer rules then will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.