PALMER'S JACKSON TO TAKE FLIGHT AT BC

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Oct 7, 2007 | by BOB STEPHENS

One look was all it took for Palmer senior Reggie Jackson, who said it was an easy decision to commit verbally to Boston College to play men's basketball.

In fact, the trip to BC was his only official recruiting visit.

"I felt like it was the perfect fit when I got there," Jackson said.

Jackson liked the idea of playing in a top-tier league like the Atlantic Coast Conference and for a program that is consistently ranked in the Top 25, despite not always garnering the top recruits.

"They're not a school that's always looking for McDonald's All- Americans," he said. "They seem to find good players and help them get better."

A signing ceremony at Palmer is planned for November and Jackson said that's when he'll ink a letter of intent with Boston College.

Palmer coach Jim Grantz said he's confident Jackson can help BC even as a freshman.

"They're excited to have him," Grantz said.

Jackson is working on his basketball skills now since he recently quit the Palmer football team. Jackson had a cracked tooth that had needed a special crown since his sophomore year, he said -- and it was going to sideline him for at least a week.

Jackson, who was Palmer's quarterback and one of the area's better players, was playing football in part because his friends talked him into it, Grantz said.

"I had to do what was best for me," Jackson said. "I feel I have a chance to be the best basketball player in the state."

ESPN ranks Jackson 80th among 2008 prospects and the 19th-best shooting guard. According to ESPN.com, Jackson was virtually unknown to most of the country's recruiters until he played well last spring on a Colorado team that competed in tournaments in Las Vegas, Dallas, Phoenix and Los Angeles. The Gazette all-area first teamer averaged about 21 points per game his junior year.

"After he was in Vegas, Wyoming called me and wanted to offer him a scholarship," Grantz said. "Then Wichita State called, and Oklahoma State and Nevada and Vanderbilt. All of them said they could see him getting playing time as a freshman."

The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder anticipates playing both guard positions in college.

"Reggie can play either guard spot, but for us, he's more of a scoring guard," Grantz said. "He has such great length -- his arms go forever -- that helps him in a lot of ways. He's fearless and will do anything it takes to win a game.

"Reggie knows he's pretty good, but he keeps listening and wants to be a better player."

Jackson said he's still looking to improve.

"I see the floor pretty well and want to get my teammates involved more," he said. "My long-range game is better and I can do more off the dribble than last year. What I really want to do is make us a state contender."

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