Jackson Strite
Twitter and IG : @jacksonstrite
6’7, 185 lbs, c/o 2028,
Louisville Male High School, KY
Jackson is a versatile young wing who is crafty around the paint area but can stretch the defense with a nice shot from three that he shoots at a high percentage. And with his length, he has a punishing mid-range game. Jackson has a high IQ and a good motor. The best part is Jackson is a ruthless defender and shot blocker.
In the AAU season, Jackson averaged 12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists per game. Jackson feels he needs to focus on becoming more comfortable with the ball in his hands and being able to blow by the defender to get to his spots. Another thing Jackson is focusing a lot of his training on is post-work right now, and he is seeing strong growth there, along with his rebounding and overall physicality. Jackson is with his sports performance trainer 2x a week at 5:30 a.m. before school and in the gym to work on shooting at 5:30 a.m. on the other three days, in addition to any time he can get in on the weekends. No one can outwork Jackson. Jackson has the passion and hunger to be the best he can be and is willing to give his all to be just that.
Jackson is currently playing on the Freshman, JV, and Varsity teams at one of the most highly rated high school programs in the state of Kentucky. Two years ago, Jackson was not starting on his middle school team. However, as a developing player on the rise with all the work he is putting in, Jackson's development has occurred so quickly over such a short period of time. Jackson's goals are to learn as much as possible from the really strong players around him while finding ways to contribute as he continues to get better at each level. Right now, Jackson is working on taking advantage of every opportunity given to him. Jackson's goal this season is to focus on making sure that he manages his time effectively so that he can still work on his personal development while contributing to play on all three teams. Jackson's biggest challenge is that he is still growing and working on his strength and athleticism while at the same time trying to improve his game, which just takes time.
People comment the most on Jackson's improvement in terms of his overall athleticism and fluidity, as well as his defensive play because he is always talking on defense and hustling. Jackson thinks that his biggest improvement is his mental toughness. It used to be really difficult for Jackson in terms of confidence if his shot was off in a game or if he made a mistake. Now Jackson has become much more resilient and doesn't allow mistakes to throw him off, and he can move on to the next play.
Jackson's biggest accomplishment was moving from being a bench player on his middle school team to a starter for AAU and making all three of his high school teams. Jackson's coaches say they have never seen anyone improve as fast as him. Scoring 17 points, adding 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals against a big rival in their season opener for the freshman team this year felt like a payoff for all that hard work.
The biggest game/rival Jackson is looking forward to this season is Manual, the oldest rivalry in Kentucky. They always want to beat Manual because it is a huge deal for their school and the whole city will be watching. Jackson feels their varsity team, currently ranked fourth in the state and undefeated, can make a deep tournament run. As a freshman, Jackson doesn't play significant varsity minutes right now but looks for every way he can to contribute. Jackson thinks the most important thing they can do as team players to ensure they get all the way to the end is to know their roles and put the team above their individual selves. So if they are a bench player or even if they don’t play significant minutes, they have to find a way to support the people who do. Jackson focuses on that and his own development until it’s his time to lead on varsity. If the whole team checks their egos and works together, there is so much talent they should be state champs this year.
What fires Jackson up the most on the court is when his opponent underestimates him but then starts to realize that he is gonna be a problem. The look in their eyes, knowing that it is going to be a long, hard night, really gets Jackson going.
When facing adversity, Jackson's faith is very strong and helps him deal with adversity on and off the court. Jackson tries to focus on what he can learn from it and how he can use it to get better.
The best piece of advice Jackson was ever given was by his Mimi. She always tells Jackson to have faith in himself and be the young man God has called him to be. Jackson constantly thinks of this, and it helps humble him while inspiring him. It reminds him that no good or bad game can take away from him and his faith in Jesus.
Jackson's interests and hobbies outside of basketball mainly include football, which he has always loved and watches all the time. Jackson also likes to go fishing and golfing with his friends. Spending time with his family is something Jackson makes sure to do, as life can get hectic with basketball and school. They keep him grounded.
Jackson doesn't focus on any division level at this time but instead on his intense desire to continue developing and improving his skills every day. Jackson knows he must stay focused on his rapid development while continuing to compete at a high level on all three teams when his number is called.
I assess that Jackson's talent and development will continue, and he will be a high-level prospect at the end of the day. Jackson already has the size and work ethic that will help him get to where he wants to be. Jackson already has that dog mentality defensively, which can't be taught. Add all his natural raw skills and abilities, and there is no limit to how high he can fly. This is a journey to note and lock him in on our radar. Plainly, y'all better get on this train now 'cause it will only pick up steam at an accelerated pace, as has already been the case.
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