When Trayce Jackson-Davis told IU basketball coach Mike Woodson he would stick around to play for him when Woodson was hired last spring, he promised him one more season. There’s still a chance Jackson-Davis could stick around for another, but he will first find out how much the NBA wants him.
The three-time All-Big Ten forward announced he will enter the NBA draft, but will maintain his eligibility to return for a fourth season in Bloomington.
Hoosiers For Good: IU athletes net nearly half a million dollars in first wave of charitable NIL deals
Who’s next: IU recruit Kaleb Banks a modern-day forward driven to restore Hoosiers tradition
“These last three years at IU have been a blessing and I have cherished every moment wearing the candy stripes uniform with pride,” Jackson-Davis posted on social media Saturday. “I would not be where I am today without so many people. I would like to thank my family and my coaches who have supported me through the years. To my teammates, I’m thankful to have bonds that go beyond the court and a big thanks to the fans that packed Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall every week. I am ready to continue this journey and after long consideration and prayer, I’ve decided to declare for the 2022 NBA draft, while also maintaining my eligibility.”
Jackson-Davis had until April 24 to decide whether or not to enter his name in the draft. As an early entrant, he can attend the NBA Draft Combine May 16-22 in Chicago and can attend draft workouts with teams and get feedback on his draft stock. The NCAA has set a June 1 deadline for him to decide whether he will remain in the draft or return to Indiana. The NBA draft is June 23.
Jackson-Davis’ draft stock seems to be all over the map at this point, and testing the waters will obviously give him a chance to get a real sense of how NBA teams see him.
The 6-9, 245-pounder has proven he can score around the rim, run the floor, block shots and rebound in his years at Indiana, but has rarely shown an ability to step out and hit jump shots. He has not made a 3-point shot in three years at Indiana and hit a limited number of shots from outside 10 feet. He helped himself with excellent performances in the Big Ten tournament and the first game of the NCAA tournament, averaging 26.3 points per game in a four-game stretch that included the Hoosiers’ three Big Ten tournament games and their win over Wyoming in the First Four. NBADraft.net had him going late in the first round late in March but now has him as a second-round pick. Most other mock drafts see him as a second rounder.
Jackson-Davis averaged 18.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season making 59.3% of his field goal attempts. He was named All-Big Ten for the third straight season, making the second team, and he was named to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team for the first time thanks to a career-high 2.3 blocks per game.
The former IndyStar Mr. Basketball from Center Grove ranks 15th all-time at Indiana with 1,588 points and eighth all-time in rebounds with 797. He was named a third-team All-American as a sophomore in 2020-21 by the Sporting News, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the United States Basketball Writer’s Association.