By: John Kampf (News-Herald.com) — COLUMBUS — Hanging high above the court at Value City Arena, home of the Ohio State men’s basketball team, is a large white banner, trimmed in scarlet.

Inside the trim it reads in scarlet letters, “Jackson.” Beneath it the number “22.”

The banner commemorates the decorated tenure of Jimmy Jackson.

The standard for OSU men’s basketball program for this generation.

At least until this year.

Since he departed Ohio State following the 1991-92 season, Jackson has had no peer come and go through the program.

Until now.

Not that he needs any introduction, Propecia buy but, well, introducing Evan Turner. The new standard for OSU’s men’s basketball program for this generation.

And just to clear things up, we’re not comparing Turner or Jackson with three other former Buckeyes who have their numbers retired and hanging at Value City Arena — Gary Bradds’ 35, Jerry Lucas’ 11 and John Havlicek’s 5. Different players, different styles, different generation.

This is about now.

And Evan Turner is the new standard. Sorry, J.J.

Granted, a case could be made for Dennis Hopson, the slick, 6-foot-5 guard who wrapped up his career in the 1986-87 season by averaging 29 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Hopson went on to be the No. 3 overall pick in the 1987 draft by the New Jersey Nets, but there’s a big reason why he isn’t in the argument here — and maybe perhaps why his number 32 isn’t hanging from the rafters on campus, either.

Hopson wasn’t as good as making everyone around him better as was Jackson and is Turner.

So this is a two-horse race.

The numbers are strikingly similar between Jackson’s final season at OSU and Turner’s possible final season at OSU.

As a junior, Jackson averaged 22.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He shot 49.3 percent from the field and 81.1 percent from the line.

In this, his junior year, Turner is averaging 19.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.9 steals. On top of that, Turner is shooting an absolutely filthy 54.3 percent from the field and 73.5 percent from the line.

So it comes down to this — impact. Both as a teammate and nationally.

With all due respect to Jimmy Jackson, no Buckeye in at least three — maybe four — decades has meant more to his team than Turner.

When Turner is on the court, the Buckeyes are a championship-caliber team. When he is not on the court, the Buckeyes are an average team.

Turner dominates all facets of the game — scoring, rebounding, passing, defending. And intangibles.

Intangibles such as simply scaring the bejeebers out of the opposition.

“Some kid in the stands yelled after he hit his first shot, ‘That’s not even fair,’ ” said Michigan guard Stu Douglass, who tried to defend Turner last week. “He does that crossover without even dribbling. How tall is he — 6-7? It’s ridiculous. If he’s around the basket, 10 feet, it doesn’t matter who’s guarding him. He’s going to hit it.”

In most circles, Turner is considered with Kentucky’s John Wall as a favorite to be named national player of the year. A national columnist taking in the OSU-Purdue game a few weeks ago was heard saying after an acrobatic shot by Turner, “I’ve seen John Wall, and John Wall can’t do that.”

Turner had his normal amazing game on Tuesday, leading Ohio State to a Big Ten-clinching win over Illinois with 16 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. He left to a chorus of chants from……

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