The Piedmont Highlander

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The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

Jackson shoots towards success on and off the court

Jackson+shoots+towards+success+on+and+off+the+court

Two capes flutter behind her in miniature. Hand-sewn to her socks, the capes wave in preparation of her basketball game later that evening.

MHS senior Ny’Dajah Jackson, who is captain and a second-year starter for the varsity basketball team, goes to win WACC First Team for the past two years, WACC Player of the Year this year and the laughter of her friends and teachers.

“She has a lot of pizzaz that takes her above and beyond, and you really notice her,” MHS counselor Stephanie Manalo-LeClair said.

Jackson stands out, Manalo-LeClair said, whether playing with teachers’ children in between classes, during basketball games, or in the classroom.

“[Jackson] is very playful, she has a playful relationship with all the staff here and even the students, and it is nice, while she can be serious and does her work and does well in her classes, she can also find the light moments and help draw you out when you are stressed,” Manalo-LeClair said. “I think she will be someone that I will miss a lot.”nanajackson3_photobyKenDeCrosta

Jackson joined her first organized basketball team in 3rd grade, playing in the CYO league until high school. When she began playing, she enjoyed the sport and continued to improve, and eventually realized that she could succeed in high school basketball and beyond.

One of her proudest experiences, besides winning player of the year, was being able to play in the CIF championship game last year with the Piedmont team.

“Going to the CIF championship last year, we didn’t win but that experience was the best experience,” Jackson said. “The atmosphere was great, doing something big that I haven’t done before and being on that stage was pretty awesome. Playing for the state games, that is a once in a lifetime thing.”

From her words to movements, Jackson is like a comedian, teammate senior Sydney Boxer said. However, despite Jackson’s silliness, both Boxer and Manalo-LeClair emphasized that Jackson is serious and dedicated when she needs to be.

When Jackson first transferred to MHS in her sophomore year, she was unable to play in games due to her transfer student status. However, despite her disappointment, Jackson went to practices and games to support her team.

“She showed her dedication to the school community, she showed her dedication to the team and when she got her chance to play she really shined,” Manalo-LeClair said.

Jackson stays after practice every day to continue to improve her form and shot.

“She is always out of the gym last. Basketball is really big for her, wants to go to college for it, and she works her ass off to do just that,” Boxer said.

Jackson hopes to play basketball through college and to continue after professionally, either overseas or in the US.

Jackson has also helped to lead her teammates and fellow students.nanajackson1_photobyKenDeCrosta

“[Jackson] helps to connect Millennium and Piedmont, because she plays basically for the Piedmont High school team but she is a Millennium high school student,” Manalo-LeClair said. “I think her being on the team has drawn students to come watch, and root for her, but also rooting for the team by default.”

As captain, Jackson has helped to lead the underclassmen on the team. She stepped up to this role this year, Boxer said. Boxer describes Jackson as leading with her actions more than her words.

“I try to talk to my teammates, telling them what they are doing, trying to have them looking up to me like a person they would try to be and captain,” Jackson said. “Being vocal on the court boosts my teammates’ confidence, talking to them to make sure their head is in the game. I think that it helps by just having that positive leader on the court.”

Jackson has been working to improve her leadership on the team, a role that she has struggled with over her past two years. Originally, she was not a vocal when she started and she worked to talk with the team and lead by example. But this year, she made a specific effort to try to improve.

“We don’t always take each other really seriously, because we always mess around, but when it comes down to it, [the underclassmen] look up to her for sure,” Boxer said. “She is amazing at all aspects of basketball and she gets better, so when they see that they feel like they can do the same thing.”

Both Boxer and Manalo-LeClair describe Jackson’s support system, her family, as the biggest crowd at every basketball games.

“Having that crowd for supports me and my family watching me grow up and play is something special to me,” Jackson said. “Some people don’t have that support system and I do. So I use it and don’t take it for granted.”

Jackson’s brother and mother come to every game to cheer her on and remind her to keep her head in the game, Jackson said.

“This year she definitely stepped up and she pretty much, I am not saying that the team doesn’t support her, but she is kind of like the Stephen Curry of our team,” Boxer said. “Just as she always leads [the team] and gets her baskets really neat, and she works hard all the time.”

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