Andre Jackson Jr.

Jackson is an American guard who entered the NBA through a draft-night trade from the Orlando Magic to the Milwaukee Bucks after a UConn career that included a national championship and a junior-year captaincy. Selected 36th overall in 2023, he has contributed as a defensive-minded wing and energy player for the Bucks while continuing to refine his offensive game.

Born on November 13, 2001, in Amsterdam, New York, Jackson attended The Albany Academy and played for the United States select team in the 2018 Albert Schweitzer Tournament. As a senior, he averaged 18.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 3.0 steals per game and was named the New York Sports Writers Association Class A Player of the Year. He committed to UConn over offers from Iowa, Maryland, UCLA, and Syracuse.

Jackson appeared in 16 games as a UConn freshman, averaging 2.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists before missing seven contests with a broken left wrist. As a sophomore, he started all but one game and averaged 6.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. He was named a team captain entering his junior season and missed the first three games after fracturing the pinky finger on his right hand in preseason practice. He recovered in time to start the 2023 national championship game, scoring three points while adding six assists, three rebounds, and two steals in a 76–59 win that secured UConn its fifth NCAA title.

The Orlando Magic drafted Jackson 36th overall in 2023 and traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks on draft night. In Milwaukee, he settled into a developmental role, earning minutes as a defensive specialist and transition finisher. On January 14, 2024, he recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 129–118 win over the Golden State Warriors. He has backed up Milwaukee's established wing rotation while working on his jump shot and half-court decision-making.

Jackson is a high-energy wing with defensive versatility, rebounding instincts, and transition speed. His college statistics reflected a player who impacted the game without dominating the ball—rebounding like a forward, assisting like a guard, and defending multiple positions. Offensively, he scores on cuts, transition layups, and occasional drives but has yet to develop a reliable outside shot. His value proposition in the NBA rests on defensive communication, switching ability, and offensive rebounding from the wing.

Jackson enters the 2025–26 season with the Milwaukee Bucks. His résumé includes a UConn captaincy, a national championship start, a 36th overall draft selection, a draft-night trade to Milwaukee, and a first career double-double in January 2024. He remains a developmental piece in a veteran rotation, with his defensive identity providing the clearest path to consistent NBA minutes.