Recruiting Report: Cam Jackson (2018)
When top players from all over a certain area team up, a lot of guys naturally have to accept different roles than what they are used to. Cam Jackson was no exception, but he made the most of it.
Jackson, a point guard from St. Cloud Tech, spent the grassroots season with Comets Elite Lewis where he transitioned from a fulltime point guard with his high school team into more of a secondary ball handler and defensive ace.
“I think [the summer] went really well,” Jackson said. “As the season got longer we got a lot better. By the end of the year we had all the parts put together. Everybody was happy with their role.”
The Comets organization has extended its reach in recent years and with that, it’s draw to top shelf talent has gotten stronger. That showed when they added Matt Todd and Kyler Kluge to their roster for this spring and summer. That addition changed Jackson’s role dramatically. It would’ve been easy for him to sulk, want to be on a different team or fight the change. Loyalty isn’t generally a hallmark of AAU culture. Instead, Jackson adjusted his game and found ways to make an impact in a different role.
“I definitely [adjusted my role],” said Jackson. “In high school I’m the point guard. I’ll play any role that I can though. The experience was amazing. I think I got way better at playing without the ball as much. My defense improved because I knew that was the way I had to impact the game the most.”
Jackson’s outside shot improved over the course of the summer and he’s always had the ability to break defenses down and create. The area where he really shined was on the defensive end where he was arguably the team’s top perimeter defender. He’s built well for an undersized guard and he uses his leverage and physicality to harass his counterpart on and off the ball.
Jackson’s drawn a lot of interest from some of the top junior colleges in the midwest.
“I’ve been in touch with Northeast Community College in Nebraska,” Jackson said. “Lake Region has been talking to me a lot too. I think junior college might be the best spot for me to start.”