Illinois To Scout Marcel Jackson

With size at a premium in the late signing period, players like Marcel Jackson become a hot commodity.

Jackson, a burly 6-9, 255 pound power forward/center from San Jose City College in San Jose, Calif., has seen Illinois enter the picture recently.

Illinois had planned to scout Jackson at the SJCC Holiday Tournament earlier this month, but San Jose City College Head Coach Percy Carr said that they had to reschedule and will come out to California and take a look at Marcel later in the season.

"I am sure a lot of people have not been that aware of Marcel, and the word is just now getting out," Carr said. "He has lost sixty pounds, got himself into shape and he is playing pretty good for us right now."

Prior to this season, Jackson last played at Arizona Western C.C. in Yuma, Ariz., during the 1999-2000 basketball season. He transferred into San Jose last fall, but sat out and red-shirted.

Jackson is indeed a big physical specimen. In the championship game of the Jags' Basketball Classic, he scored eight points before fouling out late in the contest. He possesses decent footwork and hands, but had his hands full defensively all day long with CCSF's outstanding 6-9 freshman post, Chris Adams.

"He's pretty athletic, he's not clumsy or anything," Carr said. "The only thing I think that he needs to work on is that he has to finish more around the basket. He has a nice little jump shot, but a guy that big needs to finish around the basket."

Jackson, a native of Santa Cruz, Calif., plans to sign in the spring, and JUCO Junction/Rivalshoops.com will keep you posted on his recruitment as the season unfolds.