Elmarko Jackson, who has Kansas on his list, to announce college choice Thursday

Elmarko Jackson, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior men’s basketball point guard from South Kent (Connecticut) School, who made a recent official recruiting trip to Kansas, will announce his college choice at 7 p.m. Thursday on the 247Sports Channel.

Adam Finkelstein of 247sports.com made the announcement on Twitter.

Jackson will choose either KU, Texas, Villanova, Miami or Notre Dame.

He is ranked No. 18 in the recruiting Class of 2023 according to 247sports.com, No. 28 by ESPN.com and No. 63 by Rivals.com.

He visited Miami the weekend of Sept.10. Two weeks later he headed to KU, then Texas the following week. Most recently, he was on Villanova’s campus for the program’s Blue/White scrimmage and has also visited Notre Dame.

He at one time also considered Kansas State, UCLA, Virginia, Louisville, Michigan, VCU, Maryland, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Syracuse, Tennessee, Georgetown and Wisconsin.

Jackson, according to Finkelstein, “emerged as one of the most widely recruited prospects in the country this summer while starring for We-R1 in the Under Armour Association.”

Finkelstein added: “Whichever school is able to land Jackson will be adding one of the best point guards and college ready prospects in the class. He has a unique combination of positional size, strength, and speed, with an almost unmatched ability to get downhill.

“What has taken his game to unprecedented levels in recent months though has been the progression of his decision-making and feel for the game. Jackson has learned to vary his speeds, make reads out of pick-and-roll, and create space in the mid-range area. Simultaneously, he is also utilizing his physical tools to change the game on the defensive end of the floor.”

Russ Wood of Rivals.com wrote recently of Marlton, New Jersey native Jackson: “He is a strong physical guard with a very good first step. If he gets his defender on his hip, it’s a wrap. A good two-way player with a high IQ and an equal amount of toughness.

“I was impressed at how Jackson doesn’t just use ball screens to get downhill or to get his shot off,” Wood continued. “He made some good reads and good passes. He definitely played above his current ranking (playing for Delaware-based WE/R1 at an Under Armour Association AAU event in July).”

In June, Jackson won the MVP award at the Under Armour Future 60 camp held at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

A year ago, he averaged 17.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists on 47% shooting at Academy of the New Church in Pennsylvania. He’s decided to transfer his senior season.

“I felt I developed a lot under my ANC coaches and my teammates. For me to maximize my development, I felt like South Kent was the next step for me,” Jackson told SI.com. “Coach (Raphael) Chillious (at South Kent) is a very prestigious coach, a respected coach.

“He could teach me a lot about the game from the point guard position regarding half-court and full-court reads, becoming a better leader and sharpening up my all around game. Then when I get to college it’s not as much of a speed bump as it would be for most other players.”

Jackson said he’s looking for a school “where I could develop as a player. So I want to maximize my potential, get the best I can. A nice family environment where the team and the program all rallies around each other if anything goes bad and just a place where everybody’s cool with each other. There’s no bad blood between none of the players, none of the coaches.

“Academics, obviously, is something big for me, so in my time there, I would love to take advantage of the free scholarship the school’s giving me. And then just facilities is big for me. I like player development. I’d like to maximize all my stuff there. All my physical abilities, my mental abilities, just understanding the game more.”

KU has received a pair of commitments from players in the Class of 2023.

Jamari McDowell, a 6-5, 180-pound senior combo guard from Manvel (Texas) High School, who made an official campus visit to Kansas in late August, committed to KU on Sept. 24.

McDowell, the No. 42-ranked player in the recruiting Class of 2023 according to 247sports.com and 113-ranked player according to Rivals.com, chose KU over Texas A&M, Xavier and Wake Forest.

KU on Aug. 2 received a verbal commitment from Chris Johnson, a 6-5, 180-pound senior point guard/shooting guard from Montverde (Florida) Academy. Johnson chose KU over Arkansas, Texas A&M, Alabama, Texas, UConn, Auburn, TCU, Houston, Tennessee, UCLA, Creighton, Georgia and others.

Johnson is the No. 24-ranked player in the recruiting class of 2023 according to ESPN.com, No. 32 by 247sports.com and No. 58 by Rivals.com. Johnson — he is originally from Missouri City, Texas — plays for the Houston Defenders AAU team.

KU has at least two scholarships to give in recruiting. Cam Martin and Kevin McCullar are seniors on the 2022-23 squad. Additional scholarships would be available if any non-seniors turn pro or enter the portal.