Trayce Jackson-Davis works out for hometown Indiana Pacers 'Just being here, it's a blessing'
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Hoosiers star Trayce Jackson-Davis has been tied to Indiana his whole life.
He was a star at Center Grove high school in Indianapolis before being a McDonald's All-American. Afterward, he attended Indiana University for four seasons, where he finished as a First-Team All-American. He averaged 20.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game as a senior.
His biological father, Dale Davis, spent ten seasons with the Pacers, too. The 23-year old Jackson-Davis is as Indiana as it gets.
In a state known for basketball, it was significant when Jackson-Davis, who is going through the NBA pre-draft process, went through a workout for the Pacers on Monday. It was his fifth workout in a week, but it was meaningful for the young forward.
"It's great. Just being here, it's a blessing," Jackson-Davis said in the St Vincent center Monday. He met with a large group of gathered media after the workout for nearly 10 minutes. Over the weekend prior to the workout, he spent time with his family.
"Indiana's just been my home for so long. So just being back here, being able to be in your city, in your hometown. It's a blessing. Honestly, just being close to home, being able to see your family, and everything that comes with it. Amazing to be here."
Jackson-Davis could be picked within a wide range from late in the first round to a number of spots in the second round. He is a force on the interior, and mobile bigs with decision making skills are growing in value in the modern NBA. He averaged four assists per game and shot 58.1% from the field in his final season with the Hoosiers.
He said that during his workouts, he just wants to show that he can play. That he can hustle, compete, and make the right plays. As a big man, those traits can keep him on the floor even if his skills develop slowly in the NBA.
"I feel like I showcased my game. I feel like I had a great workout," Jackson-Davis said of his session in front of Pacers executives.
At the end of the big man's workout, in the portion that media members could see, he was launching threes. That is a skill that NBA teams want to see from the post player. He only attempted three shots from beyond the arc across four years at IU. The NBA game will require more shooting ability, especially if Jackson-Davis ends up playing as a small-ball four.
He noted that it's possible he could be a four or a five in the NBA, but he just wants to be a basketball player and not worry about position. Either way, he will have to improve his three-point shot if he wants to spread things out and be a forward in the pros.
He's been working on his threes while training ahead of the draft in Los Angeles. If that becomes a weapon, Jackson-Davis will be a force offensively.
Most pre-draft workouts allow potential draftees to both show what they are working on and what they are good at. For the IU product, that is an ideal setting. He needs to show teams that he is improving his outside jumper, but at the same time, he can remind them that he is able to run well and make plays on the interior. He has a good skill set for auditions.
"Just my ability to play basketball," Jackson-Davis said of what he showed the Pacers. He noted that he displayed his shooting, driving, and passing abilities, a unique trio for a big man.
In the NBA, the six-foot-nine-inch forward thinks he can have an impact similar to the ones that Draymond Green or Domantas Sabonis have. They are high-IQ interior players who can set up their teammates and elevate an offense with good screening, rolling, and decision making skills. In his most recent seasons with the Hoosiers, Jackson-Davis showed exactly that.
The big man is finally going through the draft process after the pandemic altered his plans in the past. Jackson-Davis tested the draft waters before, but he returned to Bloomington. "I'm just happy to be here," He said of finally going through all of the pre-draft work.
He has ten more workouts coming up, with the last one being scheduled on June 19 —just three days before the draft. The Indiana native is flying to Boston today for his next workout with the Celtics. He has many more scheduled on the East coast soon after.
As of right now, the Pacers have the 26th, 29th, and 32nd picks (among others) in the 2023 NBA Draft. Those are near the range that Jackson-Davis is projected to be selected. Perhaps he could follow in the footsteps of his biological father, Dale, who was an All-Star for the franchise. The blue and gold do need size.
"He was a really really good player, he played here for a long time," Trayce said of Dale. He noted that one of the Pacers trainers said to him that he worked with his dad in the past, so it was a full circle moment.
"We'll see what happens, but at the end of the day, I'm just blessed to be in this position," Jackson-Davis added.
While Juwan Morgan was technically under contract with the Pacers last summer, the last Hoosier to play for the Pacers was Victor Oladipo in early 2021. If draft night goes a certain way, perhaps Jackson-Davis could be next.
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