Recruiting Report: Darien Jackson (2017)
SPRINGFIELD — One of the state’s premier players, Blue Valley Northwest 2017 guard Darien Jackson says he’ll make his college decision at the end of the 2016-17 season. An athletic guard, Jackson can do it all. He has the ability…
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Continue ReadingSPRINGFIELD — One of the state’s premier players, Blue Valley Northwest 2017 guard Darien Jackson says he’ll make his college decision at the end of the 2016-17 season.
An athletic guard, Jackson can do it all. He has the ability to play above the rim, get to the basket and knock down shots, and brings leadership intangibles to the court as well.
“I bring a lot of energy and explosives, ” Jackson said. “I am good at attacking the basket and dishing to my teammates.”
Jackson competed this past summer on the Under Armor circuit with KC Run GMC where he helped lead his squad to a 9-3 record. Jackson led a squad that featured numerous future Division I players in scoring, averaging 13.6 points in 12 games on the circuit. He shot 56 percent from the field and connected on 12 3-pointers.
“Growing up and developing team chemistry,” Jackson said when asked what he focused on this summer. “I had a team full of a lot of great players and they helped me become the player that I am today.”
Coached by longtime head coach Ed Fritz, Blue Valley Northwest has high expectations this season.
“We have really high expectations,” Jackson said. “After taking fourth in state last year we have a lot of growing up to do and need to act like we’ve been there before and finish strong.”
He said the game he had circled on his calendar was Vashon, a team that won a Missouri Class 4 state championship last season and returned nearly its entire roster. The Huskies pulled out a thrilling 60-56 win in Springfield.
“It was against Vashon because they were nationally ranked and everyone wants to beat a nationally ranked team,” Jackson said of the game he was looking forward to the most this season.
Jackson said his mother has been the biggest influence on his basketball career to date.
“I would say my mom because she has made a lot of sacrifices and all the things she has done for me,” Jackson said. “I try to pay her back for it with my play on the court.”
Jackson said he likes watching the San Antonio Spurs.
“They don’t try to do too much,” he said. “They just keep it basic.”
Jackson has drawn offers from Kansas State, Tulsa, UTEP, Illinois State and several others have shown interest. He has taken visits to Tulane, Kansas State, Nebraska and Creighton.
“I am waiting until after the season to decide where I want to go,” he said.