Josh Jackson is a man who is much better than his times. He’s off the selfie generation, but at the exact moment when the entire basketball world was focused upon him, he refused to make it about himself. Legendary author Tom Wolfe coined the phrase “me generation” to describe the ’80s.
Today’s decade would be the “look at me” generation. Actually, no, if you’ve ever seen any reality television program and/or female sideline reporter’s Instagram or Twitter feed, this is the “PLEASE LOOK AT ME!!!!! NOW!!!!!” generation.
Jackson was above that fray however, when pledging his commitment to Kansas at 7:30 PM CST tonight.
Jackson choose the Kansas Jayhawks over his other two finalists, the Arizona Wildcats and Michigan State Spartans. His going to KU means that the Jayhawks now have a top three class coming to the Phog. Had he committed to MSU, he would have made East Lansing’s #TheClass, currently ranked #3, the top overall group of incoming frosh.
What’s most important about the Josh Jackson announcement though was the manner in which it was conducted- no reality TV show, not even a hat picking ceremony. Just a simple “act like you’ve been there before” style Tweet. (All the more impressive when you consider that he literally has not been before) His act today was the millenial version of Michael Jordan returning to the Chicago Bulls by simply faxing two words: “I’m back.”
This was the anti-#TheDecision (although credit Lebron James for learning and bettering himself from that horrible mistake).
Josh Jackson announcing that he was going to be a Jayhawk was indeed the polar opposite of Cliff Alexander announcing that he was going to Rock Chalk. Alexander did a reality TV special where he blatantly disrespected the flagship University of his home state while his malfeasant high school charged their own students admission fees to attend the “ceremony.”
Indeed it’s a bummer than Arizona and Michigan State lost out on the nation’s top ranked player today. However, beyond that, they missed on somebody who seems to truly be a first rate kid.
Vaya Con dios to Lawrence, Josh Jackson. Thank you for bringing a touch of class back into the basketball recruiting world. It badly needs it.
Josh Jackson Profile Feature Part 1.
Josh Jackson Profile Feature Part 2.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram