Frank Jackson expected to hire agent, remain in NBA Draft

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lone Peak guard Frank Jackson is the best high school basketball player in the state and one of the top-20 recruits in the nation (ranked 14th overall by ESPN). As the summer before his senior season winds down, Jackson is weighing his many options and will soon pick from a list of schools that includes Duke, Stanford, Utah and BYU. Jackson was photographed at his home in Highland, Wednesday August 26, 2015.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lone Peak guard Frank Jackson is the best high school basketball player in the state and one of the top-20 recruits in the nation (ranked 14th overall by ESPN). As the summer before his senior season winds down, Jackson is weighing his many options and will soon pick from a list of schools that includes Duke, Stanford, Utah and BYU. Jackson was photographed at his home in Highland, Wednesday August 26, 2015.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lone Peak guard Frank Jackson is the best high school basketball player in the state and one of the top-20 recruits in the nation (ranked 14th overall by ESPN). As the summer before his senior season winds down, Jackson is weighing his many options and will soon pick from a list of schools that includes Duke, Stanford, Utah and BYU. Jackson was photographed at his home in Highland, Wednesday August 26, 2015.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lone Peak guard Frank Jackson is the best high school basketball player in the state and one of the top-20 recruits in the nation (ranked 14th overall by ESPN). As the summer before his senior season winds down, Jackson is weighing his many options and will soon pick from a list of schools that includes Duke, Stanford, Utah and BYU. Jackson, right, was photographed with his father, Sen. Al Jackson, at his home in Highland, Wednesday August 26, 2015.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lone Peak guard Frank Jackson is the best high school basketball player in the state and one of the top-20 recruits in the nation (ranked 14th overall by ESPN). As the summer before his senior season winds down, Jackson is weighing his many options and will soon pick from a list of schools that includes Duke, Stanford, Utah and BYU. Jackson was photographed at his home in Highland, Wednesday August 26, 2015.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lone Peak's Frank Jackson (15) shoots past Copper Hills' Trevor Hoffman (2) Copper Hills' Charles Olsen (21) and Copper Hills' Porter Hawkins (11) during the 5A boy's basketball tournament at the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah Thursday March 3, 2016. Copper Hills is winning the game 33-22 at halftime.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lone Peak's Frank Jackson (15) leaves the court after the game at Wasatch Academy Thursday December 10, 2015. Lone Peak won the game 68-65.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lone Peak's Frank Jackson (15) during the 5A boy's basketball tournament at the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah Thursday March 3, 2016. Copper Hills defeated Lone Peak 74-59.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lone Peak High School basketball guard Frank Jackson, one of the top basketball recruits in the country, announced his decision to play for Duke University, his choice over Stanford, Utah and BYU, Tuesday, September 1, 2015.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Frank Jackson is congratulated by his father Alvin and mother Juleen after Jackson's announcement. Lone Peak High School basketball guard Frank Jackson, one of the top basketball recruits in the country, announced his decision to play for Duke University, his choice over Stanford, Utah and BYU, Tuesday, September 1, 2015.

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Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Lone Peak guard Frank Jackson is the best high school basketball player in the state and one of the top-20 recruits in the nation (ranked 14th overall by ESPN). As the summer before his senior season winds down, Jackson is weighing his many options and will soon pick from a list of schools that includes Duke, Stanford, Utah and BYU. Jackson was photographed at his home in Highland, Wednesday August 26, 2015. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Lone Peak guard Frank Jackson is the best high school basketball player in the state and one of the top-20 recruits in the nation (ranked 14th overall by ESPN). As the summer before his senior season winds down, Jackson is weighing his many options and will soon pick from a list of schools that includes Duke, Stanford, Utah and BYU. Jackson was photographed at his home in Highland, Wednesday August 26, 2015. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Lone Peak guard Frank Jackson is the best high school basketball player in the state and one of the top-20 recruits in the nation (ranked 14th overall by ESPN). As the summer before his senior season winds down, Jackson is weighing his many options and will soon pick from a list of schools that includes Duke, Stanford, Utah and BYU. Jackson was photographed at his home in Highland, Wednesday August 26, 2015. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Lone Peak guard Frank Jackson is the best high school basketball player in the state and one of the top-20 recruits in the nation (ranked 14th overall by ESPN). As the summer before his senior season winds down, Jackson is weighing his many options and will soon pick from a list of schools that includes Duke, Stanford, Utah and BYU. Jackson, right, was photographed with his father, Sen. Al Jackson, at his home in Highland, Wednesday August 26, 2015. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Lone Peak guard Frank Jackson is the best high school basketball player in the state and one of the top-20 recruits in the nation (ranked 14th overall by ESPN). As the summer before his senior season winds down, Jackson is weighing his many options and will soon pick from a list of schools that includes Duke, Stanford, Utah and BYU. Jackson was photographed at his home in Highland, Wednesday August 26, 2015. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Lone Peak's Frank Jackson (15) shoots past Copper Hills' Trevor Hoffman (2) Copper Hills' Charles Olsen (21) and Copper Hills' Porter Hawkins (11) during the 5A boy's basketball tournament at the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah Thursday March 3, 2016. Copper Hills is winning the game 33-22 at halftime. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Lone Peak's Frank Jackson (15) leaves the court after the game at Wasatch Academy Thursday December 10, 2015. Lone Peak won the game 68-65. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Lone Peak's Frank Jackson (15) during the 5A boy's basketball tournament at the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah Thursday March 3, 2016. Copper Hills defeated Lone Peak 74-59. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Lone Peak High School basketball guard Frank Jackson, one of the top basketball recruits in the country, announced his decision to play for Duke University, his choice over Stanford, Utah and BYU, Tuesday, September 1, 2015. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Frank Jackson is congratulated by his father Alvin and mother Juleen after Jackson's announcement. Lone Peak High School basketball guard Frank Jackson, one of the top basketball recruits in the country, announced his decision to play for Duke University, his choice over Stanford, Utah and BYU, Tuesday, September 1, 2015.

By Kyle Goon And Tony Jones The Salt Lake Tribune

· May 12, 2017 12:06 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Chicago • Former Lone Peak star Frank Jackson is expected to hire an agent and remain in the 2017 NBA Draft after only one year in college.

The Tribune has learned that Jackson, a 19-year-old 6-foot-3 guard, does not intend to go back to Duke, where he averaged 11 points and shot 47.3 percent off the bench as a freshman.

Jackson held his own in front of a mass of NBA personnel and media Thursday afternoon at the NBA Draft Combine during a 5-on-5 scrimmage, scoring 13 points and adding four assists. While Jackson did not explicitly announce his intent to stay in the draft afterward, he told The Tribune that he believes his game translates better to the NBA than to college.

"Especially in pick-and-roll situations, I was able to show that today, and in transition as well," he said. "I feel like I can get better in the NBA, get a lot of reps and get practice."

Jackson, a 2016 McDonald's All-American, was a consensus top-20 recruit coming out of Alpine averaging more than 28 points for the Knights.

Jackson acknowledged Thursday that moving to Durham, N.C., was "challenging" in ways he didn't necessarily expect, like having to share with ball-dominant players like Grayson Allen and Luke Kennard, which he described as "a good thing." The Blue Devils went 28-9, falling in the second round of the NCAA Tournament this season.

While many observers speculated that Jackson might be pushed into the NBA by the return of Allen and Duke's five-star recruit Trevon Duval, Jackson said that would have no impact on his decision.

"If I were to go back, it wouldn't affect me," he said. "Tre is a great kid. We get along well."

Jackson is ranked No. 48 on Draft Express' NBA prospects this year. He said he views himself as a combo guard capable of handling the ball and scoring.

"The NBA has been a goal of mine since I was a little kid," he said. "That's what I want to accomplish, and I'm here right now. It's what I'm focused on. We'll see what happens."

kgoon@sltrib.com and tjones@sltrib.com

Twitter: @kylegoon and @tribjazz