There was little question Jackson would be named Penn State[apos]s 'Most Improved' player following the 2009-10 campaign as he posted a career-best 17 double-figure scoring games and became a consistent scoring threat raising his season average to 9.5 ppg. Jackson shot a career-best 49.8 percent from the floor as his confidence soared and he became an aggressive offensive player. With an active body, long arms and a terrific feel for the game, Jackson is an all-around asset on the floor and also earned the Lions[apos] 'Mr. Defense' honor last year. He will look for an even better senior campaign as he brings 70 career starts and 103 career games of experience into 2010-11 and stands 344 points shy of becoming Penn State[apos]s 30th 1,000-point scorer. Though possessing a lean, wiry frame, Jackson posted a team-best 21 reps in the 185-pound bench press and has the ability to battle effectively around the rim in the physical Big Ten. He will also be at the core of the Nittany Lions leadership as he looks to get Penn State back to the post-season.
HONORS/MILESTONES
Needs 344 points to become 30th 1,000-point scorer at Penn State
Needs 344 points and 122 rebounds to become 18th 1,000/500 man at Penn State
Named 'Mr. Defense' and 'Most Improved Player' for 2009-10 season.
A two-time AP Pennsylvania All-state selection
Led high school team to three Western Regional Titles and 2005 state title game
2009-10 JUNIOR
Jackson had by far the most productive and consistent season of his career posting a career-best 17 double-digit scoring games, including seven-straight in the Big Ten, and averaging 9.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg while shooting 49.8 percent from the floor to rank 10th in the Big Ten...Named the team[apos]s 'Most Improved Player' and 'Mr. Defense' as he took on opponent[apos]s top scorers...Hit a career-best 24-of-64 threes to rank second on the team shooting 37.5 percent from three...Raised his scoring average to 10.7 ppg (second on the team) with 12 double-digit games in the Big Ten...Started all 31 games playing 30.3 minutes per game to rank second on the team...Posted two 20-point outings and led the Lions in scoring three times...Scored a career-high 26 points hitting 8-of-10 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the line in an 87-75 victory over Sacred Heart (11/25)...Tied for the team lead with 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting in an 81-70 victory at Northwestern (2/17)...Posted 18 points on a career-best 8-of-8 from the line and had a team-high six boards at Minnesota (2/6)...Had 13 points and posted his 300th career rebound in a loss to No. 23 Wisconsin (1/3)...Had 12 points and six boards in an overtime loss at No. 18 Wisconsin (1/24)...Had 13 points and six boards in a loss to No. 9 Ohio State...Posted 12 points, five boards and two steals in a 67-65 loss to No. 11 Michigan State (3/4)...Had 12 points and seven boards in a loss to Virginia Tech (12/12).
2008-09 SOPHOMORE
Jackson started 25 games and played in all 38 averaging 20.8 minutes per game...Averaged 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game on the year...After struggling offensively most of the season, he exploded to average 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in seven post-season contests and posted four of his five double-digit scoring outings on the year during that stretch...Led the team shooting 79 percent (49-62) from the free throw line and 77 percent in the last five minutes of games...Posted a season-high 14 points and four rebounds in an NIT quarterfinal victory at Florida (3/24), including a big 12 footer with 1:00 to play...Had a terrific Big Ten Tournament playing two of his best games of the season while logging his first career back-to-back double-figure outings and averaging 11.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg for the tournament...Posted 10 points and five boards in a first round win over Indiana (3/12) and 12 points and five boards in a second round loss to Purdue (3/13)...Had 10 points and four boards in Penn State[apos]s NIT Championship victory over Baylor (4/2)...Had 13 points in a victory over NJIT (11/17)...Nearly posted a double-double with nine points and eight boards in a win over Hartford (11/20)...Had a team-high seven boards in a win at Georgia Tech (12/3).
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2007-08 FRESHMAN
After being a medical red-shirt in his true-freshman year, Jackson saw his first action since the third game of the 2006-2007 season in a season-opening 74-64 win over St. Francis (11/2)...In his return, Jackson scored a career high 10 points and went 4-for-5 from the line in 22 minutes of action...He went on to play in all 31 games and start 14, including the last 11, on the year while averaging nearly 23 minutes per game...Averaged 5.8 points and 3.6 boards while making 15 steals and hitting 12 threes...Posted a career high seven rebounds and his first career three-pointer in a 74-67 loss to South Carolina (11/22) in the Old Spice Classic...Scored nine points and grabbed four boards in 16 minutes in a 66-62 victory over Virginia Tech (11/28)...Went 4-for-4 from the line in the final 2:30 to ice the game...Scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds (five offensive) while playing a career high 30 minutes off the bench in a 79-67 loss at St. Joseph[apos]s (12/1)...Had six points and six boards in 27 minutes in an 89-86 OT win over Seton Hall (12/8)...Has seven points and five boards in win over Colgate (12/23/07)...Had a career best three assists and added eight point and three boards in an 81-68 win over Lehigh (12/31)...Had eight points and four boards in 20 minutes in a 68-64 win at Illinois (1/6)...Hit a big left-handed jump hook out of time-out to stem a second half Illini run...Made his first career start in an 81-65 loss at No. 9 Indiana (1/20)...Hit 9-of-11 from the line, including 6-of-6 in the closing minutes, for all nine of his points in an 85-76 victory over No. 7 Michigan State (2/2)...Scored eight points and added four rebounds a block, steal and assist in 31 minutes in a 52-51 win over Illinois (2/16)...Scored a career high 19 points, 13 in the first half, on a career-best 3-of-5 from three and added a team high eight rebounds in a career-high 32 minutes at Minnesota (2/24)...Made his first three treys in the game and was 5-of-6 in the first half...Delivered a game-winning three-point play with 18.3 seconds to go to cap a comeback win over Iowa (2/27)...Posted his first career double-double in leading Penn State with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in a 68-64 overtime upset of No. 17 Indiana (3/9)...Scored a tough basket and converted the three-point play at the line to tie the game in the final 30 seconds...Had a big tip-in to put Penn State up two, 63-61, in overtime...Had a strong game with nine points and six boards in 35 minutes in a first round loss to Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament (3/13).
2006-07 FRESHMAN - MEDICAL REDSHIRT
A redshirt season...Earned a spot in Penn State[apos]s eight-man rotation early in the year and averaged 16 minutes per game playing in the first three games of the season...Posted a 3.7 ppg and 2.3 rpg average over that span...Scored five points and grabbed four rebounds in 24 minutes in his collegiate debut vs. Morehead State (11/10)...Diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left leg (femur) on Nov. 20, he was held out of practice and impact exercise on the leg for three months...Returned to practice in March.
HIGH SCHOOL
A two-time AP Pennsylvania first team All-State selection (Class A) at Kennedy Catholic HS in Hermitage, Pa. (just north of Pittsburgh), Jackson helped lead the Golden Eagles, winners of six PIAA Class A titles, to four District 10 championships, two county championships, two regional championships, and a Western Regional championship and state runner-up finish in 2005...Led team to three Western Regional finals...Coached by former Penn State assistant coach Tim Loomis (1987-89)...A four-year starter and two-time team captain...A first team All-MCAC selection...Third Team Class A, All-State pick in 2004...Team posted a 99-21 record in his four years including 22-7 in his senior season...Averaged 20.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg and 2.4 apg in his senior campaign after his team, which was expected to challenge for a state title, lost several key players to injury...Averaged 17.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists as a junior...Played all five positions on a Kennedy Catholic team that posted a 24-7 record and reached the PIAA Class A title game in 2005...Jackson scored 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds in that game, a 65-61 loss to Bishop O[apos]Reilly...Averaged double-figures in scoring his last three seasons...Rated a 'four star' recruit by many services and 142nd in the nation among all 2006 seniors by Bob Gibbons All-Star Sports.
PERSONAL Born August 20, 1988 in Redondo Beach, Calif....The son of Andrea Jackson and Ray Mosby...Has one brother and four sisters...His brother, Amir Johnson, was drafted by the NBA[apos]s Detroit Pistons in 2006 straight out of Los Angeles HS...Father, Ray, played basketball at Long Beach State (1982 & 1983) and profesionally...Mother, Andrea, played volleyball at Cincinnati and Central Florida and was an assistant volleyball coach at Youngstown State...She was also a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team....Anticipates majoring in business.