A Wichita State basketball fan favorite might not be back with the Shockers next year
A fan favorite might not be returning to Koch Arena next season.
Clarence “Monzy” Jackson will explore his future options in the NCAA transfer portal, as the Wichita State junior forward entered his name on Monday morning. It was first reported by Verbal Commits and confirmed by The Eagle.
Jackson joins sophomore guard Chaunce Jenkins as the second WSU men’s player who is in the college basketball transfer portal. Both players are still eligible to return to WSU next season, like Morris Udeze and Craig Porter did last offseason.
The hustle and undeniable energy that Jackson, a 6-foot-7 forward, brought to the floor made him an easy player for Shocker fans to root for, but he was never able to establish a consistent role in WSU’s playing rotation.
Jackson looked primed for a larger role in the 2021-22 season after averaging 5.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in just 13.9 minutes per game off the bench in his first season at WSU, but the Dublin, Georgia native saw his minutes and production decrease this season. Although he made the first three starts of his college career, Jackson averaged just 13.3 minutes per game and 3.8 points and 3.1 rebounds.
In his limited playing time at WSU, he showed pieces of the best version of himself that could have developed into a significant contributor. He had a relentless energy that regularly attracted him to offensive rebounds and loose balls. He had the flair to make spectacular finishes and passes around the basket and also the ability to occasionally knock down a jumper.
Those flashes are enough for Jackson to be an intriguing prospect in the transfer portal.
Jackson would likely argue he never received enough playing time during games to establish a rhythm and find consistency in his game. The coaching staff would likely counter that he struggled with the discipline of operating in a team defense, which made it difficult for them to trust him with extended playing time.
Now both sides will look to move on: Jackson, after playing one year at Polk State College in Florida, has two years of eligibility in college remaining and will likely try to find a team where he can play more minutes, while the Shockers will now be on the market looking for size and rebounding at power forward.
This story was originally published March 21, 2022 at 9:11 AM.
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