Don’t sleep on Elmarko Jackson in 2025-26. The Kansas basketball redshirt sophomore point guard was a four-star prospect in 2023. 247Sports ranked him as the 20th best recruit and the fourth best point guard in his class.
Jackson struggled for most of his freshman season with the Jayhawks. He started the first 16 games of his career, but after two Big 12 games, he was moved into a bench role and started just one more game that season.
Very little went right for Jackson as he struggled to play at the level head coach Bill Self expects from his point guards. He shot an abysmal 26.7 percent from three-point range on the way to averaging 4.3 points per game. In 34 games, he tallied just 58 assists while turning the ball over 50 times. He was decent from the free throw line, hitting 76.9 percent, but he only managed 39 attempts despite averaging 18.6 minutes.
Elmarko Jackson may be the forgotten asset for this Kansas basketball team
With so much attention being paid to super-freshman guard Darryn Peterson and sophomore center Flory Bidunga, Jackson is drawing almost no discussion.
The Jayhawks added senior transfers Melvin Council Jr., Jayden Dawson, and Tre White, and fans wonder how they will fit. Jackson has become almost a forgotten man.
One indication Jackson might surprise people this season is how he handled himself last year when he missed the entire season due to an injury. During games, he actively supported his teammates, cheering them on and talking to them from the bench.
He was taking an active role in the team dynamic despite his injury. That shows leadership. If he was vocal during games, he probably was doing the same in practice. He wasn’t able to play, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t learning and maturing during his redshirt season.
It isn’t hard to envision Jackson as a starter on this year’s team. While the ball will probably be in Peterson's hands much of the time, having another experienced point guard on the floor, who now knows the system and staff, will be helpful.
Outside of the team, no one knows how much more comfortable Jackson will be on the court, or how much he’s improved. It’s safe to assume he will be much better than he was two years ago. If opponents are paying too much attention to Peterson, Jackson could be the player to get the offense moving.
While he probably won’t ever be a prolific scorer, he should be able to run the offense. He was a top recruit for a reason, and we’ve not seen the best of Elmarko Jackson yet. Look for a significant improvement in his game and leadership this season.