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An all-around player who gives the Lions excellent defense, long arms and an active body around the rim and an effective shooting touch to the three-point arc, Jackson has worked hard to become one of the Nittany Lions strongest players in the weight room despite his wiry frame. A stress fracture in his left femur, which derailed his true-freshman season and limited his action early in 2007-08, appears to be behind him and he will be looked toward to log many minutes for the Lions. He started 14 games last season, including the last 11, and played in all 31 while averaging nearly 23 minutes per game. Lauded by coaches for his "feel" for the game, his excellent passing and rebounding skills make him a strong starting candidate at either the "three" or "four" position and his strength and length around the rim give him the ability to play the "five." Effective and skilled offensively, the coaching staff will look for him to become more aggressive on the offensive end in his third season on the squad.
A two-time AP Pennsylvania All-state selection Led high school team to three Western Regional Titles and 2005 state title game Rated a "four star" recruit by many services
2007-08 FRESHMAN
2006-07 SEASON FRESHMAN - MEDICAL REDSHIRT
A redshirt season...Earned a spot in Penn State'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'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'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.
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