NBA Draft 2016: 5 players Philadelphia 76ers need to target

1. Demetrius Jackson – Notre Dame

Call it a hoops crush or something similar, but I’m probably the biggest fan of Demetrius Jackson than anyone else covering the draft. On more than one occasion, I’ve called the former Notre Dame point guard Russell Westbrook-lite because that’s legitimately the type of player I can see him being. And for a 76ers team in desperate need of guard play, I’d love what Jackson would bring to the table.

Jackson’s athleticism and what he did in his performance at the NBA Draft Combine obviously jump off the page quite a bit, but it’s more than just that. Throughout his time with the Fighting Irish, Jackson proved that he has the leadership ability and the mentality that it takes to be a successful basketball player in the ilk of Westbrook. He’s relentless in every facet of the game and isn’t going to take the foot off that gas. For a Sixers team really trying to re-establish a culture, that makes him all the more enticing.

If it were me, I’d take Jackson around the end of the lottery because I’m that high on him. However, many projections have him falling to right around where the 76ers will be picking at the end of the first. Subsequently, it would be an exceptionally foolish decision on their part to not bring the Notre Dame product into the fold.