Jackson McAndrew: Creighton's X-Factor
Will Jackson McAndrew completely shift Creighton's season and rise into a potential 2025 NBA Draft Prospect?
Heading into the 2024-2025 NCAA MBB season, the Creighton Bluejays are looking to replace roughly 45% of their total scoring from last season. As Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander both left for the NBA, head coach Greg McDermott will need to rely on a few new names to assume prominent scoring roles for Creighton. Senior transfer Jamiya Neal and Montenegro guard Fedor Žugić appear to be solid options to alleviate the departures. However, Creighton’s true X-Factor may be freshman four-star Jackson McAndrew.
McAndrew starred for the Wayzata Trojans during his high school basketball days. As a junior, he co-starred alongside senior guard Hayden Tibbits. That season, Wayzata, led by Tibbits and McAndrew, took down the reigning champs to win the state title. As Tibbits transitioned to playing college ball at St. Thomas University, McAndrew assumed the lead role for the Trojans. He did not disappoint. The Trojans posted an impressive 29-2 record while McAndrew won Mr. Basketball in the state of Minnesota.
Comparing Jackson McAndrew to Chet Holmgren
Looking back on Chet Holmgren’s lone season at Gonzaga may be the best way to understand how McAndrew may function for Creighton. Holmgren, another former Minnesota Mr. Basketball winner, entered Gonzaga as an extremely lanky, but skilled, big man who would play alongside an established collegiate star in Drew Timme.
McAndrew finds himself in a similar opportunity alongside 5th-year senior Ryan Kalkbrenner. McAndrew’s slight frame — roughly 215 pounds — standing at a listed 6’10” is comparable to Holmgren’s slender body type. To be clear, McAndrew is not the next Chet Holmgren. Holmgren is taller and was a more talented overall prospect with more reliable shooting touch, noticeably better rim protection and playmaking feel. Despite this, McAndrew’s emerging perimeter skillset gives him the chance to be a stand out in the Big East.
Ball Handling and Coordination
At his height, McAndrew has displayed tremendous perimeter coordination. His impressive ability to change direction while controlling the basketball despite ball pressure presents as a functional tool for him to utilize attacking closeouts and playing in transition as he heads into his first season of college basketball.
An intriguing aspect of McAndrew’s allure heading into his freshman campaign is his ability to provide more offense outside of playing solely off the catch. As the go-to option for Wayzata, McAndrew utilized his shooting touch as a dynamic post-scoring threat. With the combination of size in Creighton’s front court, Kalkbrenner and McAndrew are a unique pairing that other Big East teams might struggle to deal with. From a functional perspective, Greg McDermott could lean into utilizing more high-low sets or McDermott could turn back the clock to when his son, Doug McDermott, thrived as a back-to-the basket post fade mismatch nightmare.
Defensive versatility and two-way upside
McAndrew, ESPN’s number 38 ranked recruit in the 2024 class, will thrive in a roaming role for the Bluejays. With Kalkbrenner fulfilling the true center spot for Creighton, McAndrew’s length, athleticism and shot-blocking timing will allow the freshman to act as a weak-side shot-blocker rather than a true anchor. As he fills out his slender frame, McAndrew’s two-way upside could blossom into this unique shot-blocking center who can stretch the floor (44% on threes in his final high school season), handle in space and score in the post against mismatches.
For now, potential is the key word around McAndrew’s game. There is a ton of talent with good size, length and perimeter talent. He has the tools to become a dynamic stretch big in the NBA. When it comes to the 2025 NBA Draft, McAndrew is not a lock by any means to even declare for the upcoming draft. However, with a strong freshman season, McAndrew may be one of the biggest sleepers currently in the entire nation.