Reading Up On Justin Jackson

Colorado Springs, Colo. • June 12, 2011

Athletes are often stereotyped as poor students. 2011 USA Basketball U16 National Team member Justin Jackson, however, is trying to reverse that label. Jackson, a 6-5 guard, who recently completed his freshman season, prides himself not just on the court, but also in the classroom.

Jackson is a straight A student, excelling in math and Spanish. What’s more, though, is that Jackson lists one of his favorite hobbies as reading for pleasure.

The Spring, Texas, native also prides himself on the court, however, leading his team, the Homeschool Christian Youth Association (HCYA) Warriors to the 2011 National Christian HomeSchool Basketball Championship (NCHBC) national crown. Jackson averaged 21.0 ppg., 5.0 rpg., and 3.0 apg., while starting all 50 games for the 27-16 Warriors, who also won the Texas State/Region title. Despite being a freshman in 2010-11, it was Jackson’s second season playing varsity basketball. In 2011, he was named the Pete Maravich Trophy National Homeschooled Player of the Year, and is also a two-time NCHBC All-America first-team selection.

Jackson sat down with USABasketball.com to talk about life, both on and off the court.

What was your initial reaction when you were told you were selected to the 2011 USA Men’s U16 Team?

I was excited. It didn’t really hit me until later that night, but I was excited because it’s a major honor to be picked, first for the 27, and now for the 12 to go to Cancun. I was just excited, and it’s a major honor.

What does it mean to represent the USA while playing basketball?

It’s a much bigger thing than any of us have ever had to represent. You’re going out there representing a ton of people, not just you and your team, but other people in the country. You have to take that pretty seriously.

What was the reaction like from your family and friends back home when you told them you made the roster?

I called my dad and my mom. My whole family was really excited. Then I started getting text messages from a ton of people, congratulating me and saying how proud they are of me.

For someone who hasn’t seen you perform, how would you describe your style of play?

I’m more of a finesse player. I like to shoot. I have to play better through contact, but I’m more of a finesse player who likes to shoot. I like floaters.

What’s your all-time favorite basketball memory?

That would probably be winning the homeschool nationals.

Talk more about that experience:

It was great. First, you get to play at Missouri State University, so it’s on a big stage with a lot of people. It’s just a great thing to play in. You play in front of all of your fans. It’s the thing you’re working for all season.

You played 50 games last season, a significant amount more than most of the players you’re competing with this week. Talk about that, and if it helps or hurts you in the long run:

We don’t have a home gym, so we just go out to a ton of tournaments and play a few exhibition games in other teams’ gyms. It was a lot of games; I’ve never played that many games in a season. At a certain point it wears you down a little bit, but if you take care of your body it’s not a big deal.

You got straight As in school. Talk about priding yourself in your schoolwork:

My parents have always been on me about my schoolwork. They’ve said that I can’t do anything else if I don’t get my grades up. So I take that pretty seriously.

What is something that not a lot of people know about you?

I actually like to read. Most athletes don’t really pay attention to reading, but reading is one of my hobbies in my off time.

What’s your favorite author or genre of book?

I like adventure books. I like basketball books that give you good information. I pretty much read anything.

You mentioned that if you could live anywhere it would be Cincinnati. Why there?

We lived in Cincinnati about five years ago, so I have a ton of friends and family that live there. It would be great to go back to them.