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Michigan State Basketball: Jaren Jackson Jr. makes NBA All-Rookie first team

By Connor Muldowney

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 12, 2018 in Tarrytown, New York.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 12, 2018 in Tarrytown, New York.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Former Michigan State basketball star Jaren Jackson Jr. has gone from one-and-done to lottery pick to NBA All-Rookie first-teamer with the Grizzlies.

Not many rookies can appear in just two-thirds of their games and still earn major accolades, but former Michigan State star Jaren Jackson Jr. is not like most rookies.

In fact, Jackson Jr. appeared in just 58 games, averaging 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting 51 percent from the floor and 36 percent from long-range in 2018-19. He carried over his elite athleticism from his days in East Lansing to the Memphis Grizzlies and quickly became one of the best young bigs in the league.

On Tuesday, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie first team.

Jackson Jr. didn’t play in the final third of the regular season because of an injury and saw his promising rookie season cut short. If he continued his upward trend, he could have contended for NBA Rookie of the Year, but he’ll settle for All-Rookie first-team honors.

The past few years for Jackson Jr. have been quite impressive. He went from McDonald’s All-American to Michigan State starter to helping lead the Spartans to a 30-plus win season and then getting selected in the top-five of the 2018 NBA Draft. Now, the former one-and-done star has earned himself NBA honors and looks like the future of the league.

If Tom Izzo wants to use anyone as an example of a successful one-and-done to help his recruiting pitch, it’d have to be Jackson Jr. who has also given his former head coach plenty of credit.

Next. MSU Football: Post-spring game-by-game predictions. dark

This is just the first of many honors to come Jackson Jr.’s way at the NBA level. Could he become an All-Star within the next year or two?

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