Josh Jackson to Kansas: Jayhawks Land 5-Star SG Prospect

Few players in the 2016 recruiting class carry more hype than Josh Jackson. He's the kind of star who could single-handedly tip the scales in the college basketball hierarchy.

Jackson announced Monday he's committing to the Kansas Jayhawks:

According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Jackson is a 5-star recruit, the No. 1 shooting guard and the top player overall in the 2016 class. The race to secure his commitment has been frenzied from the start.

Jackson's April 25, 2015, performance in the Under Armour Association made those unaware of his talent sit up and take notice. The Detroit native scored 41 points on 19-of-24 shooting with six rebounds and seven assists.

247Sports' Jerry Meyer felt the most impressive aspect of Jackson's showing was that he didn't pad his point total with easy slam dunks:

On May 13, Meyer re-evaluated 247Sports' 2016 rankings, and Jackson remained No. 1. In the explanation for the decision, the recruiting expert praised Jackson to the hilt:

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A dynamic 6-8 three-position perimeter player, Jackson is not only the top player in the 2016 class but also one of the top prospects I've scouted in my 11 years in the business. He is a dynamic playmaker with no holes in his skill set. Jackson competes at a high level and has a great feel for the game as both an offensive and defensive player.

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ESPN's Jeff Borzello singled out Jackson's superlative work on the defensive end:

Borzello also argued Jackson will have the biggest immediate impact of any player in this year's recruiting class:

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First, Jackson is the best two-way player entering the college game. He was one of the best defensive players in the country the past couple of seasons, showing an ability to guard multiple positions on the ball and play passing lanes and help defense off the ball. His length and awareness are on another level -- which will help him adapt immediately to the college game. At last month's McDonald's All American game, Jackson played lockdown defense on Jayson Tatum, who might have the best offensive skill set of anyone in the high school game. Moreover, Jackson has a winner's mindset, more than anyone else in the 2016 class. Jackson will get on his teammates and should bring leadership right off the bat.

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Perimeter shooting is one of the few things that could hold Jackson back. While he can knock down the occasional three-pointer, rarely will he register a high volume during the course of a game.

The critique is only minor at this stage since a player with his supreme physical gifts should attack the basket at every opportunity. The three-point shot is more of a luxury than a necessity for him. Once he hits college, his coaches will work relentlessly to help him improve in that regard.

Jackson is basically a better version of Justise Winslow when the current Miami Heat star was coming out of high school. He impacts so many different facets of a game, whether it's looking to score himself, creating for his teammates or locking down the opposing team's top playmaker. He'll become nearly unstoppable if his jumper takes a step forward.

His presence will greatly help a Jayhawks roster that will see significant personnel losses. Perry Ellis is graduating, while underclassmen Cheick Diallo, Brannen Greene and Wayne Selden Jr. all declared for the 2016 NBA draft. Both Greene and Selden hired agents as well, which means they can't withdraw their names at a later date.

Selden's departure is a good thing for Jackson since it provides him an open path to the team's starting lineup. From a talent perspective, swapping the two players is also an upgrade for Kansas.

Getting Jackson's commitment was important for head coach Bill Self in order to strengthen what was a good but not great 2016 class. Before Monday, the Jayhawks ranked 41st in 247Sports' composite team rankings. With Jackson joining 4-star recruits Mitch Lightfoot and Udoka Azubuike, Self will have the pieces necessary to make Kansas a national title contender in 2017. 

Note: Recruit star rankings are courtesy of 247Sports.