Kansas basketball: A preview of the 2023 KU Jayhawks recruiting class

CG Elmarko Jackson (No. 18 player in the country)

The highest-ranked player in KU’s class, Jackson figures to have more of an impact than any other commit in year one. Although he can not be elated to see Bill Self bringing in two transfer combo guards, Jackson still has a chance to start alongside Dajuan Harris as the team’s secondary ball-handler.

Jackson is an explosive guard who has received high praise for his ability to rim-run. He can jump out of the gym and soar for an emphatic dunk at any moment. His game is similar to that of Arterio Morris, which could raise some questions regarding Jackson’s playing time. An advantage that Jackson has is that he is considered the better playmaker between the two.

He enters one of the most crowded guard rooms in the country, consisting of Harris, Morris, Timberlake, and two other players later on this list. It is far too early to make predictions about the starting five, but if Jackson cannot crack the first unit, expect him to play around 18-22 minutes per game off the bench. Even then, he would be a drastic improvement over last season’s bench guards, Bobby Pettiford and Joseph Yesufu. Jackson being a multi-year player at Kansas would make up one of Bill Self’s most talented guard rooms ever in 2024-25.