Josh Jackson, one of the top prospects in the 2016 recruiting class, is nearing a decision. The 6-foot-7 forward from Prolific Prep in Napa, California is set to commit shortly, and has narrowed his list down to three teams -- the Arizona Wildcats, the Michigan State Spartans, and the Kansas Jayhawks.
Jackson is currently ranked third on ESPN's Top 100, and is the number one recruit on 247Sports' National Composite list.
He recently interviewed with Scout's Evan Daniels to discuss his recruitment, and he had interesting things to say about each school.
"I have been watching them for years, for one thing," Jackson said of Michigan State. "In all the years I've watched Michigan State play basketball, I've witnessed them lose, but I've never witnessed them being out-toughed by another team. And I think that really fits in to how I play, as a real tough player."
"Coach [Sean] Miller and I have a very good relationship," Jackson said of Arizona's appeal. "He coached me for U19 basketball over the summer, and I really got to get a good feel of how he is as a coach, and I really like what I saw. He's a real good coach. He gets into you sometimes, but it's only to make you better -- that's ultimately what I really wanted which is [a coach] to try to make me better."
Jackson mentioned that Arizona's commits -- namely Kobi Simmons and Rawle Alkins -- have been actively recruiting him.
"Oh yeah, definitely," Jackson said when asked if Arizona's commits had contacted him. "All of them are working me."
What does he like about Kansas?
"For one, the amazing history that's there," Jackson said. "To think I could be a part of something so great that's been around for so many years and had so much success is special. Coach Self, you know, he's a great coach and he's another coach who pushes his players and makes them better, and when I went there on my official visit there a few months ago, I got a real family feel in the atmosphere. Everything was so family-oriented, and I feel I could trust people there."
Jackson said he was supposed to make his decision this past Thursday, but a few close friends and family members were unable to make it, so he had to push it back to a later date. Now, he's on track to make his decision "within the next week or so."
247Sports' Crystal Ball currently has Kansas as the favorite to land him, with Michigan State second and Arizona third, and Jackson admitted he has already made his mind up.
"It's very nerve-wracking," Jackson said. "But in my head I know where I want to go."
*all quotes transcribed via Scout.com. You can follow this author on Twitter at @RKelapireUA.
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