Horizon 2017 Recruiting Classes

Jermaine Jackson, Jr., 5-10 PG, Macomb, Mich. A highly-rated point guard comes to Detroit to play for his father. We've seen that script before, and it worked out pretty well for the Titans when Ray McCallum came to play for Ray McCallum. Now it's Jermaine Jackson coming to play for Jermaine Jackson. Of course, the elder JJ is only the 1st assistant, not the head coach. (He's also a Titan playing legend, as former HL POY on the Titans late 1990s NCAA teams). And the younger Jackson--"Triple J"--is not a top 25 national recruit like the young McCallum was. But he's a very good player, a three-star recruit and a two-time first team All State selection in Michigan's highest class, who had offers from Pac 12, Big 10, Big East, SEC, AAC, and A10 schools. Detroit hasn't had a pure point guard running the show since young McCallum headed to the NBA, and Titan faithful have been anticipating Jackson's arrival literally for years, although at times it seemed he might ditch Dad and Detroit for the wilds of Colorado. The problem may be finding playing time for Triple J plus Detroit's returning combo guards, HL Freshman of the Year Corey Allen and high scoring Josh McFolley, a former HS teammate of Jackson's. None of them are big guards, and to play all three together would leave the Titans' awfully small on the court.

Jack Ballantyne, 6-9 PF, Macomb, Mich. Jackson's Macomb Dakota High teammate inked with Triple J in a joint signing event. Ballantyne missed a pretty good chunk of his senior year, but he's another solid recruit who had offers from Boston College, Duquesne, and a slew of MAC teams. He averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists as a senior. The Titans have to feel good as Oakland offered both Ballantyne and Jackson as well.