The Memphis Grizzlies have signed first-round draft pick Jaren Jackson Jr., a 6-foot-11 forward from Michigan State.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
Jackson, the fourth overall pick in the draft, averaged 10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 21.8 minutes in his lone season at Michigan State. His 3.03 blocks per game ranked seventh nationally.
Jackson and former Ohio State center Greg Oden are the only Big Ten players ever to be named the conference’s freshman of the year and defensive player of the year in the same season.
Jackson is the highest-drafted Michigan State player since 1979, when Magic Johnson went first and Greg Kelser went fourth. Jackson’s father, Jaren Jackson Sr., had a 12-year NBA career and played on the San Antonio Spurs’ 1999 NBA championship team.
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