NCAAB

10 Players Who Can Take Over the NCAA Tournament

Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse the slideshow

Jaren Jackson, Michigan State Spartans

Jaren Jackson is no Gary Clark. Of course, by that I mean he's a popular name as a top-five prospect in this year's upcoming NBA draft. Before he takes his game to the next level, though, the freshman phenom will look to take Tom Izzo and the Spartans to their first national championship since the 1999-00 season.

Jackson's just 18 years old, but don't let the birth certificate fool you -- the kid can hoop with the best of them. In 33 games (32 starts), he's averaged 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 1.2 threes. Those aren't blow-you-away type numbers, but that's in just 22.2 minutes a game. If we take those over a full 40 minutes, they move all the way up to 20.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.7 blocks and 2.1 threes.

Foul trouble could be the only thing holding Jackson back from playing extended minutes in the postseason. He's amassed four fouls or more in 18 games while averaging 3.2 personals a night and 5.8 per 36 minutes.

When he's not saddled with foul trouble, Jackson's one of the best players in the nation. He holds the top spot in box plus-minus and is in the top-five in defensive box plus-minus (10.6) and defensive rating (85.9). As a one-of-a-kind two-way player, Jackson should be a nightmare for most teams in the Tournament. Bucknell's unfortunate enough to be the first team in his path.