Jackson Crawford – Written Profile
Jackson Crawford
6’0”, 185 Pounds
Junior
15.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.7 SPG
41.5/36.0/92.9
Jackson Crawford has spent his first three college seasons with Emory & Henry, competing in arguably Division-II’s strongest conference. There, he’s not only been one of his league’s top contributors, but he’s improved year over year. Now, he’s one of the most complete, competitive, and productive guards at any level of the sport.
Offense
Jackson Crawford’s dynamic three-point shooting is a trait that makes him easy to play in a variety of lineups and schemes. This past season, he hit 36% of his threes on super high volume, taking 6.5 attempts per game. His touch is also evident at the free throw line too, where he sunk 92.9% of his shots this past season. Crawford can get to his three-point jumper in a variety of ways. If a defender goes under a ball screen, he’s ready to pull the trigger. Still, he can be a valuable off-ball player because of his prowess off movement. Crawford has NBA range, he’s excellent at running into his shot in transition, and he’s proven he can drain threes when he flies off screens or handoffs. Whether he has the ball or not, defenses have to be locked onto him at all times, or he’ll make them pay from beyond the arc.
This three-point shooting helps to accentuate Crawford’s excellent inside-the-arc game. Part of the reason he ranked in the 88th percentile in pick-and-roll scoring efficiency this season is because he’s great at breaking down defenses, applying pressure to the rim, and finishing inside. He’s quicker than a hiccup and has a dizzying counter game that serves to get defenders off-balance time and time again. From there, his powerful frame, vertical pop, and baby-soft touch help him to convert at the rim. As a result, Crawford took 24.4% of his halfcourt shots at the basket, which is an exceptionally high number for a sharpshooter, and he converted an efficient 55.1% of his shots when he got there. Plus, he’s an excellent passer. While his counting numbers were suppressed from playing in a multi-guard system, Crawford’s 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio when he played a traditional point guard role as a freshman demonstrates his creation acumen. He has a tight handle and has his eyes up at all times. He’s able to thread needles in heavy traffic to deliver interior dishes to big men or spray it out to open shooters after he creates advantages and gets into the paint. Crawford’s high-level shooting, rim pressure, ability to finish, and crafty passing arsenal are a rare set of traits to find in one individual player.
Defense
Jackson Crawford is a suffocating to defender who constantly forces his opponents to making mistakes. This past season, opponents turned the ball over 29.4% of the time in isolation and 21.9% of the time in pick-and-roll possessions when Crawford was their primary defender. He’s intense, physical, and gets up on his man. His blend of foot speed and strength make him tough to get through or around. This heavy pressure leads to ill-advised dribble pickups, rushed passes, and smothered, low-percentage shots. His feel shows up on this side of the floor as an off-ball defender, too. Crawford is able to time plays in passing lanes, he knows where to rotate, and uses his athleticism to disrupt the opposing offense as a help defender. Crawford’s ability to stay in front of the ball, cause turnovers, and elevate his team as an off-ball defender make him a great bet to scale-up effectively on this side of the floor.
Conclusion
When we first met Jackson Crawford, we asked him what was most important to him, and we got an answer that we’d never heard before. He told us, “I want to be coached hard.” As an incoming senior, he has the maturity, experience, talent, and confidence to step onto the floor and be a leader from day one. Still, he’s not a finished product, and he’s only going to get better. Every year, he’s gotten bigger, stronger, faster, and more polished. His work ethic, elite three-point shooting, ability to break down a defense, finishing, crafty playmaking, and suffocating defense make him as ready-made a contributor as can be found.