Remember Him?

Remember Chad Jackson? No not the one named Wolfegang that plays for the Patriots in the NFL. The one who was at Rose Hill and was part of the Rose Hill Team that was suspected of not doing things the 'christian' way.(and by that I mean the way Ashland wanted them to still be the whipping-boy), but not that Rose Hill team(the one that had Mayo), and no not that Rose Hill team(the most recently disbanded and probated team thanks to in large by the Coach). He was on the juggernaut in the middle, the one that included the much bally-hooed and down right at times scorned Dakotah Euton. You know, looks like Bird, plays like , well Bird, and was commited to the Gillespie Cats?? Yes, that Chad Jackson, the transfer to to Rose Hill,with his freak-show like brother, from Lexington who transfered to Scott County with Euton for their remaining two years and played on another State Power Program( at the time, Rose Hill was experiencing a 2nd stint of dominating teams after a 2 year lay off after OJ's Circus ran the place.) Jackson, who like Euton, I was always a supporter of. Euton would have been GOOD at Kentucky, he would have fit in nicely and would have contributed greatly on down the line, imagine an American version of former Vandy Aussie Ogilvie(sic). And Jackosn was apparently garnering interest from UK too, being told that the prospects were there to possibly be offered a scholorship to join Dakotah in Lexington, and at least be given a walk on spot.

My how times changed. Cal comes in, Euton, who's offer would have been honored, decided to look elsewhere for his post secondary exploits, and Jackson became an interesting also ran in the annals of UK history.

Some impressive Scott County teams and some good showings in a couple summers later, and Chad Jackson is a D1 athlete. Now, if he joins Marques Dawson as a complete and utter under-achiever in college, then I will be disapointed. Dawson, who apparently needed some 'classroom' work went the JUCO route, and I am assuming some off-court attitude problems and Mischief led him to the land of avoid like they got the clap. He ended up at Middle Tennessee and under-preformed his whole time there. Aside from having the quickest hands I have ever seen, one can't forget when he did the 'crip' walk in celebration of Rose Hill's first ever 16th region title...ahhhh...memories... Unfortunately, he will be more known as the driver of an Escalade found in possesion of marijuana that was pulled over in Huntington during Mayo's senior season at the school. Mayo was a passenger in the vehicle.

Back to Jackson, who should have NONE of those issues. After mulling over offers from EKU, Morehead State and ultimate cinderella Northern Iowa... He selected James Madison University. I think it would have been interesting to see him at Morehead State, but ultimately, he decided against staying in eastern Kentucky and took his wares to up-state Virginia to be a Duke.

Jackson should be able to get some minutes and contribute fairly early in his freshamn campaign. He needs a little tweeking of his shot and needs to het a higher percentage from the 3 pt line, but his big quality is his ability to crash the boards and get the rebound, and he has a good basketball mind and knows how to and what decisions to make on the floor. He shows his vesatility inside by going right or left handed and he is explosive in transition and is a slasher at the combo guard position. There is no doubt that Chad Jackson could play at a higher level of school. No Doubt at all. But he went the mid-major level, where like I said will benefit him early with minutes and being able to display his talent... I see JMU being a stepping stone for Jackson, and I can see him transfering out after a season...I get the idea he was told by a few BIGGER programs that he needed more seasoning and instead of going to a prep school or a JUCO school, he elected MId-Major to be his starting point. Maybe he will finish up at JMU, or maybe, and I am leaning this way, he ends up at a Big Ten School before it is said and done.