Three-star Jackson has plenty of options

A number of high major programs are beginning to express a sincere interest in Dante Jackson, the 6-foot-5, 195-pound combo guard from McClain High School in Greenfield, Ohio. While Jackson, a three-star prospect, is wide-open at this time, several schools are starting to distance themselves from the others on his list.

"Quite a few schools are interested in Dante," said McClain head coach Rick Van Metre. "Michigan, Xavier, Dayton, Miami-Ohio, Illinois, Penn State and Kentucky are the schools that are showing the most interest right now. I can also tell you that Bob Huggins is also interested in Dante.

"The schools that I just mentioned are the ones that have been by to either watch Dante play or practice," he added. "Michigan, Xavier, Dayton and Miami-Ohio have been recruiting him for several years. The other schools have been coming on within the last couple of months or so. Dante has also unofficially visited Xavier, Dayton, Michigan, Kentucky and Miami-Ohio."

Now that his junior year of basketball is over, Jackson will likely make a decision about his future in the spring. He and the rest of his McClain High School teammates were eliminated from the playoffs on Friday night, so Jackson is still feeling the sting from that loss.

"We were eliminated on Friday night," said Van Metre. "We finished the year 21-2 and Dante played very well for us. He was just named the District Player of The year. Dante averaged 28.5-points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game.

"The most impressive part about his game was the fact that he shot 66 percent from the filed and 42 percent from behind the arc," he added. "Now that the season is over, I don't really know when he will make a decision. I would say that Dante will be ready to decide by the spring."