ASU hoops newcomer Jackson looks to be catalyst
Marreon Jackson doesn’t need a bigger chip on his shoulder. He says he already plays with one, just because of the number of times he’s been “counted out.”
He transferred from University of Toledo to Arizona State where he is expected to be the catalyst for a new, retooled Sun Devil squad directed by coach Bobby Hurley. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound guard is out to show that players from mid-major programs can excel on a bigger stage.
“This is what I do. You can ask any high major team who played against me, NBA guys who played against me in the summer. They couldn’t tell I was a midmajor player. This is what I do, been doing this my whole life,” he said.
Jackson made his unofficial debut in a Sun Devil uniform Monday night as ASU squared off against St. Katherine, an NAIA school out of San Marcos, California, in an exhibition contest at Desert Financial Arena.
The Cleveland, Ohio, native brought an impressive resume with him to Tempe. He was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year last season, averaging 18.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists. He became the first Rocket ever to register two triple-doubles with 18 points, a career-high 11 assists and 10 rebounds against Miami (Ohio) and 22 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists later at Ball State.
Those accolades could have landed him a spot on the roster of any number of high profile schools. But he was quickly sold on Hurley, who is starting his seventh season heading the program.
“Hurley reached out to me himself, from his personal cell phone. It wasn’t an assistant or someone else calling me. He said he called me late because he didn’t think that he called in time because of the other schools that were calling for me,” Jackson said. “He kept it 100 from the jump. He seemed real genuine, what he was talking about. When I got here, nothing has changed. What he said is what he meant. I respect that.”
Hurley likes what he has seen out of his newcomer and praised his work ethic and leadership long before he got to Tempe. Hurley put in extra time in looking into background of his players because he wanted to find the right fits. He hasn’t been disappointed.
“He’s a real competitor,” Hurley said, last week after a practice. “He’s set the tone at both ends of the floor. He’s guarding extremely hard on defense in practice. He said to me, `I’m going to play a little better in real game action.’ He’s got the maturity about his game. That confidence. Even today in practice he grabbed (true freshman) Enoch (Boakye) and saw some things he could help him with. So he’s not only in his own game, he’s going beyond to try and help his teammates.”
Jackson said he knows he might not put up quite the offensive numbers he managed last season but he isn’t worried about that. ASU seems to have a talented roster that is highlighted by transfer portal pickups, three of whom were the leading scorer at their respective schools — Jackson, D.J. Horne (Illinois State) and Jay Heath (Boston College).
There are nine newcomers on the ASU roster in addition to guard Luther Muhammad, who was in the program but didn’t play due to shoulder surgery.
There are only three holdovers from the active roster — forwards Marcus Bagley, Kimani Lawrence and Jalen Graham.
“Everyone knew coming here, you weren’t going to be the leading scorer,” he said. “Everyone is going to have their game. You’re going to have games where you have 20 and you’re going to have games when you have 10. Our overall goal is to win.”
Last year the Sun Devils seemed to be talented, too, but things never quite came together as expected. There were a lot of players that were used to having the offense flow through them and there wasn’t enough attention to other facets of the game like rebounding and defense.
Hurley has said several times he likes the makeup of this team and doesn’t expect the same issues with this squad. The rebounding differential was addressed in recruiting.
Jackson agrees.
“Dogs,” he said, when asked what the character of this team will be. “Dog mindset. Do whatever needs to be done. Diving on the floor, loose balls. There may be some games someone has two points, five charges (taken). You’re the difference maker right there. Giving everybody that dog mindset.”