NBA Draft 2011: Why NY Knicks Need Syracuse PF Rick Jackson, Not Kenneth Faried

The 2011 NBA draft is almost here, and Thursday night marks the final stamp on Donnie Walsh’s legacy as New York Knicks president of basketball operations before he rides off into the Indiana sunset. Whoever Walsh chooses with the 17th overall pick, you can be sure he’ll do his damnedest to make certain another Knicks draft bust does not tarnish his reputation as a team-building genius.

The Knicks are a few pieces short of a championship-caliber roster, and this is why New York remains one of the more intriguing stories in this year’s draft. With just a single pick, Walsh will have to decide between selecting the best talent available or addressing the most critical need.

Will the Knicks pursue a relentless rebounder like Kenneth Faried or a top-notch defender like Chris Singleton? Are they targeting a sharpshooting 2 guard such as Jimmer Fredette or Klay Thompson? Is acquiring an insurance policy for Chauncey Billups at point guard like Iman Shumpert or Charles Jenkins the top priority? Or will they shock everyone and pull off a deal for little-known Republic of Congo native and defensive specialist Bismack Biyombo?

If Walsh is as bright as he’s given credit for, he’s going to do what’s best for the Knicks in the interest of winning and choose someone who will make the team better defensively the second he sets foot on the court. That doesn’t necessarily mean picking the biggest and most talented name left on the board.

Yeah yeah yeah, it’s the same old song and dance—Kenneth Faried is the all-time NCAA Division I rebounding leader, the next Dennis Rodman, has a motor that never stops running and would be a perfect fit for the Knicks. Well, there’s somebody else flying under the radar who can offer a comparable package minus the fanfare: Rick Jackson.

If you didn’t grow up bleeding orange like me, then you probably haven’t heard much about the power forward entering this year’s draft out of Syracuse University. Rick Jackson has been overachieving his entire career.

Back at Neumann-Goretti High in Philadelphia, Jackson played alongside Syracuse recruit Scoop Jardine, who was ranked 51st among high school prospects in 2007 by Rivals.com. While Jackson was gifted in his own right, he wasn’t highly recruited and, by all means, wasn’t on Syracuse’s short list.

Due to the unbreakable bond Jackson and Jardine shared, Jardine agreed to sign his letter of intent to attend SU under one stipulation—if he was playing for the Orange, coach Jim Boeheim and his staff had to allow Jackson to join the team with him.

Unbelievably, the ploy worked, and the two began their freshman careers together in the fall of 2007.

Living in Syracuse at the time, I witnessed firsthand that Jackson was a project. He could block shots and finish at the rim, but besides an easy banker or a two-handed stuff, he was very raw.

Longtime Boeheim assistant Bernie Fine has a history of fine-tuning big men who come through the Syracuse program, and he was able to work his magic with Jackson during the offseason preceding his sophomore year.

As a sophomore, Jackson’s minutes almost doubled, and his confidence rose, as he was one of the first subs called upon off the bench. His production also improved in most major categories, including shooting 62 percent from the floor.

Jackson had matured into a starter by his third season as one half of the imposing frontline duo that also included Arinze Onuaku. By this point, his development was astounding, and he was steadily molding himself into a top power forward in the uber-competitive Big East Conference.

After his breakout junior campaign, during which he compiled averages of 9.7 points on 59 percent shooting, seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal per contest, Jackson was thoroughly prepared to assume the role as starting center in 2010 in place of the graduating Onuaku. Akin to Amar’e Stoudemire, Jackson is a true power forward, but he switched positions and played an undersized center to help the team.

As the lone big man who saw a significant amount of time under Boeheim last season, Jackson’s stock really rose while putting up career highs just about everywhere. One of the few college players to average a double-double, Jackson amassed a stat line of 13.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.3 steals and 59 percent from the field per game.

In addition to increasing his production year by year, Jackson drastically improved his game. Previously inadequate offensively, Jackson learned to use both hands and expanded his arsenal to include a baby hook. He still lacks an outside jumper, but if you recall, ex-Knick David Lee didn’t have one either when he entered the league.

As an All-Big East Second Team honoree, Jackson led the conference his senior season in rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and double-doubles. Jackson was aptly rewarded for his efforts when he was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

Taking all of Jackson’s accomplishments into account, you’re probably still wondering why him instead of Faried.

Well for starters, Faried is listed at 6’8” and 225 pounds, but he’s really only 6’6” without his shoes. Unless you’re Charles Barkley, the odds of having NBA success at the power forward spot are stacked against you at that height.

In comparison, Jackson is listed at 6’9” and 240 pounds, but he stands at 6’8.5” barefoot. Using Faried’s scale, that increases Jackson’s playing height to 6’10.5”.

Faried compensates for his lack of height with a 7'0" wingspan, but Jackson’s got him beat at 7'1". Jackson is not only taller, but he’s wider and heavier too—all excellent advantages on the defensive side of the ball.

Skeptics may say Faried is superior athletically, but an analysis of their no-step vertical leaps reveals Faried jumps 30.5” and Jackson isn’t far behind at 30”.

Both players are run-of-the-mill offensively, but they’re relentless on the boards and above-average defensively. If you’re looking purely at stats, Faried’s career numbers embarrass Jackson. However, you must consider where they played collegiately.

Syracuse resides in arguably the toughest conference in college basketball, the Big East. On the other hand, Faried played for Morehead State, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. The Ohio Valley Conference is typically not even mentioned among the mid-majors, or those not included among the six major conferences like the Big East.

Faried’s numbers are inflated because he competed against weaker opponents, but Jackson went toe-to-toe with the cream of the crop, including numerous NBA-ready athletes.

Jackson has played on a grander stage his whole career, whether it be nationally televised ESPN games, attendance record-setting sold-out home crowds at the Carrier Dome or epic Big East tournament games at Madison Square Garden. He also has participated in eight NCAA tournament contests as opposed to Faried’s four March Madness appearances.

Not since Charles Oakley have the Knicks had a power forward who preferred to put himself in the line of fire and do the dirty work. Jackson is capable of planting himself in the paint and growing into the next “Oak Tree.”

Best of all, Jackson is projected to be a late second-round pick or go undrafted. Realistically, the Knicks could purchase a late selection for peanuts and draft Jackson or roll the dice and hope he’s passed over and sign him as a free agent.

So, if Donnie Walsh wants a guy who never gives up, has a true NBA power forward’s body and possesses all the intangibles he’s looking for in a defensive-minded post player, then pursue Rick “The Ruler.” If he wants to leave a bad taste in the mouths of Knicks fans and draft another dud like Jordan Hill, go with Faried.

I could be wrong, but something about Faried is eerily similar to Renaldo Balkman, and we all know how that turned out. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just the hair.