Unforgettable run of blessings
NCAA championship, engagement, draft mark Jackson’s year
In a few days, Justin Jackson will hear his name called to become an NBA player. He will don the little draft cap, shake the commissioner’s hand and smile for the cameras.
It would be such a momentous occasion in a young man’s life it would jump all the way to thirdmost memorable of his past few months. Those top spots are taken. Jackson’s decision to return to North Carolina for his junior year paid off when he and the Tar Heels took the NCAA championship in April. Jackson had gone from a home-schooled star in Houston, became a coveted recruit with his play for the AAU team Houston Hoops, rose to the ACC Player of the Year and next a champion.
Weeks later, he proposed to longtime girlfriend Brooke Copeland, sharing the news that she accepted on Twitter and Instagram.
By June, he had been making the rounds of NBA workouts with realistic hopes he will be chosen in the lottery.
“It’s been a pretty crazy, crazy end of the year,” Jackson said. “Winning a championship, getting engaged and now, going through this process. I wouldn’t trade any of it, for sure.” Home schooling a plus
The basketball side of his “blessings” can traced to the decision to return to North Carolina — not to improve his draft stock but to improve as a player. Jackson’s potential already was clear enough that he would have been chosen in the middle of the first round, roughly where he could go in this season’s draft Thursday. But he said he has become a better player, with the awards, statistics and title to back it up.
“I knew I wasn’t necessarily ready,” Jackson said. “I knew the things I needed to get better at, but then, hearing it from the guys that make the big decision at the next level, gave me more motivation. It made me realize that it’s a job that I’m trying to get. The time that I need to put in had to be as if I was going into an office and sitting at a desk working.
“Realizing that I need to do that and get better at certain aspects of my game, I thought going back would be a great decision and obviously, it turned out to be a great decision. Individually, it helped me in my game so much. Shooting, getting stronger, leadership, defensively — kind of all aspects, I think having an extra year and having an extra offseason helped a lot. “
At a time that many draft decisions are made based on when prospects would be selected, Jackson’s was different. But his career has been unusual. Jackson said he did not miss out on anything that matters to him by being home schooled. He got competition and the spotlight in AAU. His talents, as a 6-8 small forward with a smooth-shooting stroke and good feel for the game, got him where he wanted to be.
“I’ve always said home schooling isn’t for everyone,” Jackson said. “For me, I loved being home schooled. I’m not a big partier. I’m not a big social guy. I didn’t feel like I was really missing out of anything I really wanted to be a part of. Playing AAU and going to church and the way we did home schooling, the social aspect was always there for me. “I always joked the only things I didn’t have was prom and homecoming, and we ended up having a prom and homecoming for home schooling. I think being on my own was more of an adjustment than going from home schooling to a big university. Home schooling was great for me.” ‘I would love to go lottery’
At 22, he is older than most first-round prospects. His decision to return for a junior season has become increasingly unusual. As an NBA player, he will have to get stronger and continue to grow as a range shooter and off the dribble. But his only hope for draft night would be to go somewhere he will improve, rather than to land with a particular team or place in the draft.
“I just want to go wherever the best opportunity for myself, wherever that might be, whatever pick,” Jackson said. “I just want to go in, work, try to earn a spot to contribute to help that team.
“I would love to go lottery. That’s an unbelievable honor. For me, just being able to play in the NBA and work my butt off to be the best I can possibly be at that level, that would be a blessing and for sure a dream come true. Whether its 10, 15, 20, I’ll be honored and from Day 1, try to get better.”
Things have worked out so far, to the point that no matter what happens, he won’t forget these past few months.
“For me, every day I just try to get better in life and on the court,” Jackson said. “As time went on and the season went on, winning the championship, being able to propose very soon (after) and knowing I would be going into this process, all I can say is it’s just a blessing from God. That’s the only answer I can possibly give to how my life is now.”