Cedric Jackson doesn’t know the plays and Flip Saunders hasn’t exactly seen what he is able to do, the Wizards have yet to have a practice since Jackson has joined the team, but expect the rookie to be on the court against the Chicago Bulls tonight.
Before the game, Saunders said that he’ll probably play both of his new players a little bit, Cartier Martin along with Jackson, to “see what they can do.” The coach also mentioned that his guys know they have to play well because the team they’re going against certainly have a sense of urgency right now. Currently the Bulls are two games behind Toronto Raptors for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
In the meantime, Jackson, having previously spent time with Cleveland and San Antonio this season, said he’s just looking to find a home and show the coaches what he can do.
But much less a home, Jackson has been looking for a jersey. Tonight he gets to don the #9 jersey which was originally planned for him. After waking up at 4 am to catch a flight from his D-League home of Erie to Detroit to New Orleans on Tuesday, the Wizards were only able to get him a nameless #88 jersey to wear on the bench against the Hornets. So, maybe it’s a good thing he didn’t make his debut with the Wiz on Tuesday.
First reported yesterday, today the Wizards officially announced the signing of guard Cedric Jackson from the Erie Bayhawks of the D-League to a 10-day contract.
Jackson is listed at 6’3″, 190 pounds.
He attended Northern Burlington High in Columbus, New Jersey, which is just off the Jersey Turnpike, not far from Philadelphia.
He started at St. John’s, but after two seasons he transferred to Cleveland State in 2006.
When Waters was showed the door at Rutgers, Jackson, his high school coach, and his father approached Waters and told him that he would go where he went. Cleveland State became their destination.
In his senior year, Jackson was the Horizon League defensive player of the year.
Last March, Jackson and Cleveland State upset Butler in the Horizon League Tournament final to lock up an automatic bid in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
In the second round, Cleveland State lost to 12-seed Arizona 71-57.
Undrafted out of college, Jackson signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this year (late Jan./early Feb.) and appeared in five total games. Cavs coach Mike Brown didn’t always know who Jackson was, even after putting him in his first NBA game ever. Of course, Brown is the same NBA head coach who sometimes stands on the outside of his team’s huddle while someone else draws up plays.
Jackson also signed one 10-day contract with the Spurs at the beginning of March and appeared in five games.
The basic scouting report on Jackson is that he’s lightening quick, a good defender, but doesn’t have much of a jump shot … for more, check out Ridiculous Upside.
Matt Hubert of Blog Talk Bayhawk (which covers Jackson’s D-League team) once told Michael A. De Leon of the blog Project Spurs that Jackson’s game is, “very similar to Tony Parker’s in that he uses his speed to drive to the basket and finish over bigger defenders.”
His NBA game-highs are: 14:41 minutes (3/13 with Spurs), six points (3/12 with Spurs), and four assists (3/13 with Spurs) — I imagine he will soon be setting new career highs.
Jackson will be in uniform against the Hornets in New Orleans tonight and will wear #9, which is also the number he wore with the Cavaliers. He wore #11 with the Spurs.
The last Wizard to wear #9 was Paul Davis earlier this season and before that, Darius Songaila in his three years with the team.
“Officially,” Jackson is the 26th Wizard this season, but neither Drew Gooden nor Zydrunas Ilgauskas suited up for the team. It’s safe to assume that Jackson with be the 24th player to suit up in a Wizards uniform. Cartier Martin set the franchise record by being #23.
