Jackson takes his game to a higher level and excels

BY SCOTT HADDOW

So far in life, there has been only one thing which has been able to slow down L'Horizon multi-sport athlete Jordan Jackson.

It's not the fact he competes at a higher age level. He's done that most of his life and succeeded, including playing senior boys' basketball this year, despite being a junior, and finishing as the league's third leading scorer. He also competes in volleyball and track and field and excels in those realms as well.

It's not the fact he balances school, sports, a part-time job and social and family life. He's done that a good portion of his life and succeeded, as well, including earning a +80 average in his first two years of high school. Jackson also prides himself on being a strong role model for his younger brother and sister, spending any free time with them.

What has slowed down Jackson's potential rise to the upper echelons of local multi-sport high school athletes has been inappropriate footwear.

At last year's city track and field championships Jackson earned silver medals in the junior boys' 400-metre run and long jump despite competing in basketball court shoes while his opponents all had track cleats.

This year, Jackson is sporting a new set of track cleats himself, which he hopes will help him obtain gold medals in his events and continue his amazingly successful school year for 2007-08.

The season started strong as Jackson helped the senior boys' volleyball team gain a lot of respect in the Division I league. In 2006, the team finished in seventh place with a 4-5 record. Jackson's talents helped the squad go 7-2-0 and take third place in 2007.

It continued during the basketball season as Jackson lead the senior squad to first place in the Division II league with a record of 8-0-0. They then won the city championship and a silver at NOSSA. Jackson finished as the third leading scorer with 120 points in eight games, averaging 15 points-per-game.

Jackson is now preparing for his club basketball season with the Sudbury Vees as well as the upcoming high school track and field season. He also plans to try out for the soccer team as well.

Keeping busy keeps Jackson in check with life and guilt free.

"I like the challenge...of competing against older players and balancing a busy life," the 15-year-old said. "It gives me different skills. I get homework done during school and work on weekends so I can go to every practice, and every game. It makes me feel I let the team down if I miss a practice or game. I missed one practice this year because I was sick. That's it...I played every game. I put so much into it because I want to do well."

Jackson goes all out in every aspect of his life as he hopes it will inspire his younger brother, Josh, and sister, Jamie-Lyne. His younger siblings go to as many games as they can to watch their big brother unleash his abilities on opposing teams.

"They both give me a lot of motivation," the Grade 10 student said. "I love to see them at the games. I give my sister hugs at half-time every game she comes to. I ask my coach every time and he says yes. It's just great to see her coming running to me and jump in my arms."

Jackson was a force for the senior boys' volleyball team, playing the left side power position.

"Jordan added a lot," volleyball and track coach Marc Dubuc said. "Having him at the junior level would have been a waste of his time. He has explosive leg power and his hang time is tremendous. He played a key position for us and just got better and better all season."

Jackson continued to showcase his skills during the basketball season. He was a starter as a junior on the senior squad and blew the league away with his consistent performances, including 19 points in the city championship win over bitter Valley rival Confederation.

"Jordan was dominant even though he's only in Grade 10," basketball coach Marcel Blanchard said. "His impact was huge. He's very strong and stands just under six-feet tall and can dunk the ball. Jordan can shoot, drive to the basket, is responsible defensively and can play multiple positions."

Jordan isn't just talented, he's also dedicated and it shows up on the court and in the classroom.

"He was my most competitive player," Blanchard said. "He wants to play all the time. He has a plus 80 average and he's taking some advanced science and math courses at the Grade 11 level. It's quite special...we don't have academic athletes like him every year."

Jackson has savoured the wild ride this season, especially the basketball campaign.

"We went undefeated in basketball and won the city championship...it meant a lot to me and I was proud," the five-foot-eleven athlete said. "Our team was talented and we all take a lot of pride in our sports because we're a smaller school. I hope we can compete in Division I next year because I know we could do it. I thrive on representing our school and seeing it do well. When we play as good as we can, we can compete with any team no matter how good they are."

There has been one blemish on Jackson's season, and since he's a student first, it bothers him to the core.

"Last year, my average was 86 percent," Jackson said. "This year, it's 83 percent. I took an art class and it brought my average down. Art just wasn't my thing."

When Jackson isn't dominating the athletic arenas or working his part-time job at the Elizabeth Centre as a kitchen hand, he's working to keep his grades sky-high. He already knows he needs solid marks to get into his chosen profession.

"I want to go to university and become an optometrist," Jackson said. "I find eyes fascinating. Everyone has a different aspect about their eyes...none are the same and it's cool."

Jackson's approach to school and life has made him a role model at L'Horizon.

"Jordan will be counted on to be a leader as he gets older...he's already doing it," Dubuc said. "He means a lot to our program here. He's a good kid who's academically and athletically inclined...he's a great role model for other students."

For now, Jackson can't wait to feast on the track competition.

"I have better shoes now...track cleats and they're lighter than my basketball shoes I ran in last year," Jackson said. "I want to do better this year. I also didn't do enough training last year. Not this time. No excuses this time around."