Suns' Josh Jackson weighs in on Bridges’ decision, dreams about playing at Michigan State

PHOENIX – Josh Jackson likes to daydream.

He wonders what it would’ve been like to play for Tom Izzo. What if he would’ve chosen to wear a Spartans uniform, his favorite team growing up in Detroit. One thing that still piques his interest is what it would’ve been like to play alongside his childhood friends, Miles Bridges and Cassius Winston.

“Oh yeah, I think about it all the time,” Jackson, the No. 4 pick of the Phoenix Suns, said in front of his locker after the Sun's loss to the San Antonio Spurs Saturday night. “It would’ve been cool, but who knows. It came real close.

But ...

“I’m still a Jayhawk at heart,” he said, cracking a grin. “No regrets.”

Spartan faithful know all too well — but most care to forget — about Jackson’s college decision.

He chose to sign with Bill Self and Kansas.

And to make things worse, the top-seeded Jayhawks beat MSU 90-70 last season, knocking the Spartans out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Jackson led all scorers with 23 points.

That is still a fond memory for the Consortium College Prep product. He loves to remind Bridges and Winston any chance he gets.

MORE ON JOSH JACKSON/ MILES BRIDGES:

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

* Kansas star Josh Jackson enjoyed playing against friends, MSU 

* Couch: Minus Josh Jackson, MSU's recruiting class still Izzo's best

And speaking of Bridges, that brings another question to the rookie point guard’s mind — Why did Bridges return to school?

“I’m not going to lie, I was surprised like everybody else,” Jackson said of Bridges’ decision to forgo millions last June as a surefire NBA Lottery pick.

Don’t get him wrong, he respects Bridges’ decision. Jackson faced the same conflict.

To stay at Kansas or to go?

After “a little bit” of thought, Jackson declared, becoming a one-and-done. Three months later, he was rewarded with a two-year, $11.1 million contract.

He said his buddy from Flint would’ve heard his name called that day, too.

“He’s a dude that everybody pretty much knew was going to be a top-5, top-7 pick,” Jackson said of Bridges. “I was just really surprised that he stayed.”

Jackson, who is averaging 9.3 points per game in his first 27 NBA games, said he has no doubt that Bridges could already be an impact player at the highest level.

He said he doesn’t get to catch up with Bridges as much as he would like, but anytime the Spartans are on television, he watches. He said he has been impressed with Bridges’ vision, the way he shares the ball and finds open teammates.

Scoring and driving to the hoop have never been an issue for the sophomore, according to Jackson.

“He’s a playmaker,” Jackson said of Bridges. “He is very versatile. He will be able to play with or without the ball in this league. When he gets up here, he’ll be ready.”

Another year in college, Jackson said, makes Bridges that much more scary.

“You know, he’s there, he still getting better, getting stronger and working on his game,” he said. “In the long run, I think it will benefit him.”

And Bridges isn’t the only Spartan Jackson sees making it to the NBA.

His friend from Detroit also has the tools, he said.

“Cassius? Oh yeah, definitely,” Jackson said of Winston, a sophomore. “Cassius is another great point guard, always finding the open guys on the floor. He’s fun to play with.”

Jackson has the bragging rights for now, thanks to the Jayhawks win last March. A national championship by Bridges, Winston and Co. this year would change that. But Saturday night in Phoenix, it was a Spartan who closed the door on the Suns' comeback. Bryn Forbes, a second-year guard who graduated from Sexton High School in Lansing, drilled a game-winning 3-pointer with 21.5 seconds left to lift the Spurs to a 104-101 win at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.