UNC Basketball: Justin Jackson Has What It Takes to Be the Next Tar Heel Star

UNC's fab freshman Justin Jackson arrived in Chapel Hill, like many Carolina recruits, with a ton of honors and some steep expectations.

The 6'8" wing from Tomball, Texas, was a McDonald's All-American Game co-MVP, scoring 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting. Jackson was also a Jordan Brand Classic selectee and was ESPN's No. 8 player of the class of 2014.

His UNC bio reports that he averaged 31.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 blocks in 40 games as a senior.

Even at his height, Jackson has the skill and agility to play either shooting guard or small forward.

But, it is not his abundant talent alone that will launch him into ACC stardom from Day 1. Young Mr. Jackson is the whole package.

He has what it takes to be the next Tar Heel star.

What intangibles does he bring to the 2014-15 Carolina roster that could help them get back to the Final Four for the first time since 2009?

Terrific Teammate

When a player is called "a good teammate," many times it is because they lack elite-level talent. They contribute to the team through mindset and their approach to the game. 

Jackson has mad skills, but he is also the consummate teammate.

In fact, at halftime of the McDonald's game, he was named the Jack Daly Sportsmanship Award winner of the year. Keeping It Heel's Zack Pearson noted that "The award goes to one high school boys' and one high school girls' player who displays great sportsmanship throughout their season."

Jackson is not focused on "getting his" or stealing the show. His optimism and humble confidence are contagious and will help establish him as a leader even in his first year.

Intense Competitor

Jackson is not resting on his high school laurels. He has not entered his collegiate career on cruise control.

He is working hard and putting forth maximum effort in the preseason workouts.

Just last week, Jackson won "The Carolina Mile," a long-standing team tradition. My guess is that 6'8" freshmen usually don't win this:

GoHeels.com's Adam Lucas recounted Jackson's guts and determination:

"

Freshman Justin Jackson led the pack for most of the mile. He and walk-on candidate Spencer Dalton (four players are in the hunt to fill walk-on spots) battled for most of the final lap, with Dalton making several attempts to pass the freshman. But Jackson eventually turned in one final kick and edged Dalton at the end with a time of 5:08, well under the tough time of 5:40.

"

Not only is he in excellent condition (no small issue), but Jackson would also not be beaten. The fact that one of your stars-in-the-making is putting it on the line in something like this is a great sign.

You would guess that he will not be wishy-washy when the season begins. He will not be unsteady when the heat is on.

Over the summer, ESPN's C.L. Brown suggested that the entire incoming recruiting class "arrived on campus with the kind of hunger -- better yet, heart -- that has been missing in Chapel Hill for some time."

Bottom line: The combination of Jackson's talent and and his tenacious resolve is rare.

High Hoops IQ

On top of his selfless attitude and his intense competitiveness, Jackson knows the game and knows how to play it.

He is not just an athlete in shorts and sneakers. He consistently knows what to do and where to be. 

USA Today's Jason Jordan watched Jackson in action at the McDonald's All-American game. He stated, "Sure, some of his shots were uncontested layups and putbacks, but to even have the awareness to constantly put yourself in the right place at the right time is remarkable in itself."

Proper positioning on the court helps players at all levels get more than their share of points, rebounds, steals and any other box score entry or basketball metric. Seeing the big picture on both ends of the court turns an average player into a good one, a good one into a great one and a super-talented player into a star.

Jackson's basketball intelligence will help him completely leverage his massive talent.

Looking Ahead

Many sports fans are hesitant to heap praise upon incoming freshmen before they begin to play their first games. There is a long list of disappointments and busts across the college basketball landscape who never lived up to the hype or their potential.

If Jackson ends up underperforming in the upcoming season, I will be the first one to admit that my predictions were wrong or premature.

But Jackson has the hoops skills, the physical tools and a long list of intangibles that point towards him being Big Time from the onset of the season that opens with "Late Night with Roy," the kickoff to the Heels 2014-15 campaign on Friday, October 3.