MEN'S BASKETBALL: Shooting Prowess Makes BC’s Jackson A Leader On The Court

“It helped me tremendously to see where I needed to get better,” Jackson said. “In high school, everyone who was going to play in college dominated. [Pump ’n Run] was big for me because it helped me to see where I was going to fit in at a higher level and what I needed to do to get there.”

Being a major part of Donahue’s first recruiting class here on the Heights has inextricably tied Jackson and his fellow sophomores to the fortunes of their head coach. But in hearing Jackson talk about his coach, one can easily sense that he has completely bought into what Donahue is selling here at BC.

“I love everything about his style,” Jackson said about Donahue.

“It is tailored to my game, to our team, and to our offensive weapons. Him as a coach, he’s just so positive. We all trust in him completely, even though we’re struggling right now. He’s coached for over 20 years and he’s been through this process before. If we just come to work every day as a team and stay positive through all our trials and struggles, I think we’re going to come out on top. He’s one of the best leaders in the country for this team.”

The ultracompetitive Jackson seems to have a style and demeanor that fit seamlessly with his coach on-and-off the floor. With their basketball fortunes at BC so closely linked, it is obvious that Jackson is one of Donahue’s guys.

What is not as obvious is the future of the duo and the rest of this Eagles squad, but regardless of their struggles, Jackson projects a confident image for his team in a message to Boston College basketball fans.

“The fans should know that we’re a special group,” Jackson said. “We’re determined to be a team that is reckoned with in the NCAA. Even though right now it’s not going great, we’re going to get there. The fans just need to know to keep the faith and keep trusting us because we know we’re going to get there.”