UNC in the NBA: Justin Jackson named to Kings Summer League roster

Justin Jackson will play in the NBA Summer League for the Sacramento Kings again in 2018

The North Carolina Tar Heels will have eight former players participating in the NBA’s Summer League this year, with some big names that you are familiar with.

Rookies Joel Berry and Theo Pinson went undrafted this year and then signed to their respective Summer League teams last week. But joining them will be some other former UNC players who have NBA experience.

Justin Jackson was a part of UNC’s important 2014 recruiting class, joining both Berry and Pinson as top 20 recruits to commit to the Tar Heels. The trio went to the Sweet 16 three times, the Final Four twice and won the National Championship together in 2017.

After Jackson decided to forgo his senior season, he was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft and then was acquired by the Sacramento Kings in a trade just minutes later. Jackson played on the Kings’ Summer League team last year before making his NBA debut in the season opener.

Now, Jackson is back on a very talented Kings Summer League roster that includes 2017 draft picks Harry Giles, Frank Mason and De’Aaron Fox. It also includes 2018 first-round pick Marvin Bagley Jr.

The Kings announced their official California Summer League roster on Saturday, posting it online on their website.

At first look, this roster is loaded with players who achieved success on the college level at blue blood programs like UNC, Duke, Kentucky and Kansas. The Kings are in the middle of a rebuild and are hoping these past two drafts will give the franchise cornerstones for years to come.

Jackson appeared in 68 games for the Kings last season and averaged 6.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He did end the year on a high note as he improved his play as well as his three-point shooting.

It will be interesting to see if Jackson can perform well at the Summer League and help show some promise for the future of the organization.

The California Classic is a four-team event with the Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat that takes place July 2nd, 3rd and 5th. It will host double-headers all three days in a round robin style tournament.

Next: Joel Berry on Lakers Summer League roster

For more on Jackson and other UNC players in the Summer League, please check back with Keeping It Heel.