Five-star recruit Ashlon Jackson is ready for next challenge with Duke WBB
SOUR LAKE, Texas (BVM) 鈥� There aren鈥檛 many people who have the basketball resume that Kara Lawson does. Named one of the 100 most influential people in women鈥檚 college basketball by Silver Waves Media in the summer of 2020, Lawson鈥檚 impact on the sport includes becoming the Boston Celtics鈥� first female coach in the franchise鈥檚 73-year history and a gold medal in the United States鈥� 3×3 Women鈥檚 National Team Olympic debut earlier this year.
After spending the 2019-20 season with the Celtics, where she helped Boston to a 43-21 record, the former WNBA and Olympic champion was named Duke University鈥檚 fifth head women鈥檚 basketball coach in July of 2020. Although the Blue Devils opted out of the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 concerns, Lawson鈥檚 basketball pedigree has helped land the Blue Devils鈥� next stars.
鈥淲ith her (Lawson), I feel as though I can accomplish anything,鈥� Ashlon Jackson, a five-star Duke commit, said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 won at every level, whether that be USA, collegiate level or WNBA. I want to do that and she was most definitely a big part of me committing.鈥�
Jackson knows what she wants and has the talent 鈥� and, now, the coaching 鈥� to accomplish it all.
Ranked as the in the Class of 2022 by ESPN, Jackson chose the Blue Devils over UConn, Oregon, Stanford and Louisville. The Hardin-Jefferson High School senior averaged 22.6 points, 5.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 4.9 steals and 1.3 blocks as a junior en route to 22-4A District MVP honors.
https://twitter.com/Ashlon3Jackson/status/1346804852345679872
Jackson began her high school career as the Regional MVP and 22-4A District Newcomer of the Year as a freshman before becoming a three-time All-Region and All-State honoree. The 6-foot combo guard believes versatility to be her most valuable attribute.
鈥淚鈥檓 very versatile so whatever position is needed to play in order to win, I鈥檓 that,鈥� Jackson said.
That versatility is something Lawson looks forward to utilizing, but it鈥檚 also Jackson鈥檚 love for the game and competitive nature that made for a perfect match.
鈥淭he first thing that stands out to me about Ashlon Jackson is that she plays the game with such joy,鈥� Lawson said in a. 鈥淪he loves to compete and she loves being a part of a team. That competitiveness and team-oriented style is what drew me to her. Ashlon loves people, she loves her teammates. She is somebody that makes people around her better. That’s why we wanted her here.
鈥淪he can do everything on the court 鈥� she’s a versatile guard. She can defend, she can pass, she can score. She’s somebody that brings toughness to the game. We really feel like she is one of the most complete guards in this class. We can’t wait to get Ashlon to Durham.鈥�
The feeling of excitement is mutual as Jackson is not only looking forward to joining Lawson and the Blue Devils, but another top-35 recruit in the Class of 2022.
Shay Bollin (Mass.) is a and the No. 33-ranked recruit in her class by ESPN. Jackson and Bollin were actually teammates at a camp last summer, a preview of what Blue Devil fans can expect in the near future.
鈥淎round that time, I had Duke and Stanford as my top two and it was kind of the same for her (Bollin) also,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淏ut the whole time, she was already committed to Duke and later that month, I committed also. It鈥檚 just a small world that we ended up on the same team and everything.鈥�
Jackson is well aware of the reality of Duke. The university is known for its men鈥檚 basketball program, one of the most recognizable brands in American sports. But that doesn鈥檛 mean that the women鈥檚 program can鈥檛 match, or even exceed, the popularity of its male counterpart.
鈥淒uke is known for men鈥檚 basketball or just basketball in general, but the more that we win, the more we get recognized also,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淓specially with Kara being there, she鈥檚 coached on the men鈥檚 side, so we鈥檙e on the verge of getting there.鈥�
Jackson said getting her commitment out of the way has allowed the sole focus of her senior season to be on winning a UIL state championship for the Hawks.
Her goals for when she arrives in Durham are of the same ilk.
鈥淚 just want to win,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淲hether that鈥檚 in the classroom, it doesn鈥檛 matter. Of course there are small accolades that I want, but most importantly, I just want a natty (national championship). I feel as though before I leave, we will get one.鈥�
