GREEN & WHITE BASKETBALL

Michigan State faces ex-top recruit Josh Jackson, Kansas in NCAAs

Chris Solari
Detroit Free Press
Mar 17, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Josh Jackson (11) goes up for a shot during the second half against the UC Davis Aggies in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

TULSA, Okla. – They hoped he would become part of “The Class.” Instead, Josh Jackson is instead now “The Enemy.”

It was a little more than a year ago that Miles Bridges and Cassius Winston sat beside Detroit native Jackson at Breslin Center, trying to lure their close friend to join them in East Lansing.

Jackson eventually picked Kansas. And now, he’ll be “just another roadblock” for the Spartans and Bridges.

“It’s a good matchup. I have a lot of respect for him. He’s like my brother,” MSU freshman Bridges said Friday. “But business is business.”

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The ninth-seeded Spartans defeated 8-seed Miami (Fla.) in their opener, 78-58, and draw former Detroit Consortium star Jackson and No. 1 seed Kansas at 5:15 p.m. Sunday in the second round (CBS).

Jackson had 17 points and seven rebounds in the Jayhawks’ 100-62 blowout of No. 16-seed UC Davis in Friday night’s earlier game at BOK Center. The 6-foot-7 swingman is averaging 16.4 points and 7.2 rebounds a game for Kansas (29-4). He has been dealing with a number of legal issues the past few weeks and received a one-game suspension from Jayhawks coach Bill Self.

“When I step out there on that court, I’m really not thinking about anything else but basketball, something I’ve been doing for most of my life,” Jackson said after Friday’s win. “It’s just a game, and I’m going to just play it.”

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And a big part of his life of basketball have been Bridges and Winston, who remain close with Jackson despite their friend turning down Tom Izzo and the Spartans. They were AAU teammates as kids and among the top players in the state before Bridges left for Huntington Prep in West Virginia after his freshman season at Flint Southwestern and Jackson headed to Prolific Prep in California for his final two years of high school.

“It’s crazy. We grew up together, playing AAU basketball and things like that,” Winston said. “I wish all the best for him, I wish the best future for him. When we play him, of course, I wish the best for us. After that, it’s gonna be a battle. He’s my brother, though, and I love to see him succeed.”

Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@chrissolari.