Former Kansas guard Josh Jackson will be playing for the Phoenix Suns next season.
Jackson, a 6-foot-8 Detroit native who averaged 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds a game in his one-and-done season at KU, on Thursday night was selected by the Suns with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft.
Jackson, one of 20 players to accept invitations to sit in the green room of Barclays Center, site of the draft in Brooklyn, N.Y., became the 17th Jayhawk and 11th in the Bill Self era to be chosen in the lottery (top 14 picks). The lottery began in 1985.
Jackson was chosen first-team all-Big 12 and conference freshman of the year after setting KU freshman records with 258 rebounds, 13 double-doubles and 220 field-goals made. He was also a Wooden All-America selection, Big 12 player of the week twice and newcomer of the week seven times.
Jackson on Thursday became KU's 24th first-round pick since the NBA went to a two-round draft in 1989. Self has had five top-10 draft picks in his 14 seasons at KU. Andrew Wiggins went No. 1 overall and Joel Embiid No. 3 in 2014, while Thomas Robinson was No. 5 in 2012 and Ben McLemore No. 7 in 2013.
