Jackson McAndrew Draws Increased Attention
Jackson McAndrew, a 6-foot-8 rising junior forward from Wayzata (Minn.) High, shined last weekend with the Howard Pulley 16U team, averaging 11 points per game as they finished 4-2 at EYBL event in Kansas City. His strong play earned him his second scholarship offer from Northern Iowa (his first was from St. Thomas) and increased interest from the homestate school.
McAndrew was the sixth man on the Class AAAA runner-up this season. He averaged 5.4 points per game this season, scoring in double figures four times. He scored a career-high 19 points versus Buffalo.
McAndrew comes from a basketball family. His father, Steve, played basketball for North Dakota and helped lead Fargo South to the North Dakota Class A title in 1989 as they finished 25-0, the first Class A team to go undefeated in 48 years. One of his college teammates was Ben Jacobson, the current Northern Iowa head coach, who offered his son a scholarship earlier this week.
McAndrew has had a busy summer as he attended Minnesota Gopher team camp and the Wisconsin Advanced Camp, impressing coaches at both events. Both schools were front and center at the EYBL in Kansas City. McAndrew also played at the recent Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Showcase at East Right High School.
McAndrew told me in Kansas City that the Gophers have picked up interest in him, wishing him luck and attending all of his games as they are also recruiting his AAU teammates Daniel Freitag and Jack Robison, who both have Gopher offers. McAndrew told me that the Gophers have invited him to an upcoming practice.
The Gopher Report recently caught up with McAndrew at the MBCA Showcase to learn the more about his early recruitment and AAU play.
Gopher Hole: I know that last month, coaches could finally call you for the first time. What schools did you hear from?
Jackson McAndrew: "I heard from St. Thomas, Illinois State, Northern Iowa, Wisconsin, Loyola, Appalachian State, Nebraska, Belmont, North Dakota and South Dakota."
The Gopher Report: Does that make it feel more real now that coaches can actually finally talk to you directly?
McAndrew: "Yes. It is a very cool experience as well. Very fun process."
The Gopher Report: You had a chance to play at the Gopher team camp. What was that like?
McAndrew: "It was a lot of fun. It was cool being at the practice courts and playing with the new squad. It’s good to get the chemistry going as well."
The Gopher Report: Did you get a chance to talk to the Gopher coaches at the camp?
McAndrew: "I had a few words with some of the coaches. Not really a conversation, just a couple 'hellos' and stuff like that."
The Gopher Report: You have been shooting the ball well. How pleased were you with how well you have been played at the MBCA Showcase?
McAndrew: "I feel like Saturday was a slower start, but today, I feel like I really picked it up and starting playing how I know I can play and played very well."
The Gopher Report: Is it tough sometimes because you want to play as a team, but you want to standout, too? Is it a little bit hard to get that chemistry right away?
McAndrew: "Yeah, you kind of have to find that middle point and I think our teams done a pretty good job. I would say that we got a lot better at it today, moving the ball around than yesterday and we’ve been looking like a better team, playing pretty well together."
The Gopher Report: I know that some of the coaches that you said called you were here. Have you kind of noticed them or do you try not to notice them?
McAndrew: "I try not to let it get to my head and notice it a lot, but you can’t really miss it. It’s pretty cool that they are all here."
The Gopher Report: Do you ever catch yourself when you make a good play or a nice shot from outside, maybe looking over to the side?
McAndrew: "I haven’t yet. Not yet."
The Gopher Report: Where all are you playing in July with Howard Pulley?
McAndrew: "We are going to Kansas City for another EYBL tournament and after that it is Georgia, if we qualify. If we don’t qualify, I think we are going to Vegas."
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