Sat Feb 12

[irishmike]

25-23-4

Clemson +1
UK +1
Ohio St +1.5
Tenn +6
WVU -18

gl to ALL:thumbs:

[joepa66]

GL IrishMike and you know you really wanna back my paisano Ed Calo and his Westerville South Wildcats. The Wildcats feature OSU great Jimmy Jackson's son....


Jackson works hard to make his own name
Westerville South senior gets assist from his famous dad, Jim
Friday, January 28, 2011 02:53 AM
BY STEVE BLACKLEDGE THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Along with the chiseled torsos and obvious facial resemblance, father and son seem to share many character traits. Almost anyone who knows them would agree that they're cerebral, polite, mild-mannered gentlemen. But Big Ten Network analyst Jim Jackson caused a minor uproar in Westerville recently.
When asked during a broadcast whether he can still beat Traevon, his talented teenage son, in basketball, the former Ohio State basketball great nonchalantly answered in the affirmative. Traevon Jackson told his Westerville South coaches and teammates the next day at practice that he had taken his 40-year-old father to school on the court recently.
"Depends who you ask, I guess," said the 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior point guard, rolling his eyes for effect. "Dad claims he beat me as late as my sophomore year, but it's just not true." Jim maintained that his son is relying on semantics to win the family feud.
"He beat me in 21 a few times, but that doesn't even come close to counting," he said. "Traevon has never beat me in one-on-one, and that's the only game that matters. When the day comes he can beat me in one-on-one, I promise I'll hang up my shoes for good." The two got a late start developing their relationship.
Traevon's mother, Tamera Winston, opted not to tell Jackson about their son until he was 7. They never married. Winston, a former basketball player at Newark, has raised Traevon alone. "It was a big thrill when Traevon became part of my life," said Jackson, whose retired No.22 OSU men's basketball jersey is one of only four hanging from the rafters in Value City Arena. "That came during a time when I was in the prime of my NBA career, and we arranged for him to visit me during spring breaks, holidays and summers. We had some great times together, and I'm sure it was quite a learning experience for him."
Traevon said he vividly remembers sitting on or behind the bench serving as a ball boy, or sitting in a vacant seat on press row. His 6-5, 220-pound father played for 12 teams in his 14-year NBA career. "The players seemed so huge to me and the game was played at such a fast pace," Traevon said. "It was memorable hanging around in the locker room after games. I got to know a lot of the players."
Young Traevon received valuable basketball lessons when he spent the summer before his freshman year in Los Angeles with his father. He played numerous pickup games at UCLA with college and pro players. That November, he made the varsity at Westerville South. "The first time I saw him play, I saw a maturity that young people just don't have," Westerville South coach Ed Calo said. "He was physically strong and tough, but I wasn't overly sold on his skills. His jump shot was actually pretty ugly. I could tell because of his work ethic that he would develop into a good player, and he certainly has done that."
Jackson improved dramatically each year, finally averaging 19.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 4.0 steals in leading the Wildcats to a 22-1 record as a junior. The second-team All-Ohio choice began drawing the eyes of college recruiters. Traevon insisted that even though his father's experience in basketball offered a valuable perspective, his mother and his coaches were equally involved in the college decision. After narrowing his choices to Wisconsin, Arizona State and Dayton, the left-hander signed with Wisconsin in June.
Some Buckeyes fans wondered how the son of legendary Jim Jackson could get away, but coach Thad Matta never showed serious interest. The elder Jackson added, "Frankly, I think getting out of Columbus will be a good thing for Traevon. He needs to spread his wings." The decision to attend Wisconsin underscored how Traevon all along has sought to carve out his own identity.
"I used to get upset when people pointed at me and said, 'That's Jim Jackson's son,' but eventually I just passed it off as human nature and left it alone," he said. "Both of my parents have always encouraged me to think for myself and be my own person. I wouldn't consider myself a chip off the old block. I'm just me."
Jackson's teachers, coaches and teammates are quick to point out that he not only is the ultimate team player but a regular guy with a part-time job at a grocery store. In leading Westerville South to a 14-0 record, Jackson is averaging 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
"The biggest asset to Traevon's game is that he's a gym rat who works and works and works on every aspect of his game," Calo said. "Personally, he's just a great young man, a special kid who obviously has a lot of people looking after his best interests. His mom has always been a rock, and his dad has given him his heart and energy as well."
When his broadcasting schedule allows, Jim Jackson - who lives in Dublin - sneaks into one of the higher seats in the gym to watch Traevon's games. "I've never pushed Traevon to play basketball, just to work hard at anything he pursued," Jackson said. "I always try to equate life in any advice I give him. I'm more proud of the young man he's grown to become than anything else."