Since we evaluated Jackson after NAL and Naptown a few weeks ago, he’s done nothing but continue to produce and elevate his stock. A bona fide horse at 6’3 and 190 to 200 pounds, he’s incredibly consistent, if anything. At the National All-Star Games, I had him down for seven goals across the three full games that I caught, including a hat trick in the semifinals in a thrilling OT win over New Jersey. There’s no doubt that while Jackson could win his matchups at will, he was selflessly sharing the ball by drawing slides and helping his teammates benefit from the attention he drew. What’s striking about Jackson, among other things, is how much ground he can cover with just a few steps, and it often seems like he can just put his foot in the ground and all of a sudden, the ball is in the back of the net. Just about every shot is a high-percentage one, as he gets back to the middle with relative ease even when slides are coming early and often.

Because Jackson is a stalwart for one of this age group’s very best teams, he’s certainly the most well-known name in this article, not to mention his 6-foot-3 frame and high-end athleticism that tends to make college coaches salivate. He’s a hard-charging midfielder who not only knows how to create his own shot, but has a knack for drawing attention and getting the ball to his teammates. Timed at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, the way he moves is just flat-out different, as he gets from one restraining line to the other in the blink of an eye. He commands a longpole matchup every time he steps into the field, though at NAL and Naptown, he found himself with shortsticks on him and quickly made them each pay the price. Jackson is incredibly fun to watch, and I can’t help but be intrigued to see more of him heading into a recruitment that is sure to include a who’s who of top programs.