University of Connecticut Athletics
Andre Jackson Decides To Remain In NBA Draft
5/31/2023 9:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / May 31, 2023
STORRS, Conn. – UConn junior guard Andre Jackson Jr., an integral part of the Huskies' 2023 National Championship run, has decided to forego his last two seasons of college eligibility and remain on the list of underclassmen eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft.
Jackson (Amsterdam, N.Y.) had until midnight on May 31 to remove his name from the Draft eligible list, as UConn teammate Tristen Newton did earlier on Wednesday, but instead will join Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins, two other starters from the UConn championship team, on the NBA Draft list.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Jackson is on team draft boards beginning in the mid-20s of picks and is expected to be selected anywhere from there through the early second round. The draft will take place on June 22nd.
Labeled by UConn Coach Dan Hurley as the best athlete and the finest leader he has ever coached, the 6-6 Jackson was the engine that powered the Huskies to the fifth title in the history of the program, posting a 31-8 record and winning each of the six games in the NCAA Tournament by double digits.
Jackson, a UConn co-captain this season with Sanogo, posted on his Twitter account Wednesday evening: "My time at UConn has been filled with ups and downs. but through it all I built relationships with my teammates, coaches, friends and fans that will last forever. I've made so many memories playing in that jersey and I will miss it. But I will always be a Husky. Thank you."
While Jackson did not have gaudy statistics – averaging 6.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals this season – his intangibles were evident throughout UConn's season as well as in the workouts he had with NBA teams. His outstanding athleticism, disruptive defense, playmaking abilities and relentless motor could make him a valuable addition to an NBA team.
In his three seasons at UConn, Jackson scored 506 points, grabbed 494 rebounds, had 296 assists and 84 steals. During his tenure at UConn, the Huskies posted a 69-26 record (.726), made three NCAA Tournament appearances, and won a National Championship.
