Glendale Junior College is coming off another subpar season, after finishing with an 11-18 overall record on the season and a 7-13 record in conference play in the Arizona Community College Athletic Association (ACCAC) this past season. As a result, former head coach Dave Hodges decided to resign and the school introduced it's new head coach recently - Damin Lopez.
With Lopez taking over and looking to rebuild the program, the Gauchos will look to gain immediate help next season from it's small group of returning players. While the core group of players from the 2011-2012 season were very talented, the team struggled to win consistently.
One freshman performer that was part of this year's core group of contributors was 6-foot-6 rising sophomore forward Kris Jackson. A 2011 graduate of Mountain Ridge High School, Jackson raised his level of play from high school and became an instant contributor this season for the Gauchos.
Jackson started a number of games for Glendale this season - averaging 7 points and 4 rebounds per/game on the season.
With each of the Gauchos' sophomore contributors from this past season moving on, Jackson was expected to return next season as the program's top returning prospect.
I caught up with Jackson last week on the school's campus and he advised me that he was really excited about next season and is looking forward to having a big sophomore season.
After speaking with Glendale JC head coach Damin Lopez this morning, I was informed that Jackson has intead decided to accept a scholarship offer from the University of Minnesota-Duluth for next season.
Jackson was recruited by hard-working assistant coach Kevin Williamson to the program, a former head coach from Yuma High School. Williamson has made a rather fast and successful career out of signing top-rated talent from the state of Arizona. Former Glendale HS and Glendale JC star wing James Ellisor was recruited by Williamson at Bemidji State University and earned Division-II National Player of the Year honors this season.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Jackson is a nice talent with very good size for the 2 and 3 positions on the court. He has a good overall skill level, capable of scoring off the dribble and also while catching the basketball and shooting with range. He is a solid ball handler and is able to bring the basketball up the floor. Still developing as a playmaker, but Jackson has a solid feel for the game and seems to be very comfortable with the basketball in his hands. Solid rebounder. Solid defender, has good lateral quickness. Capable shotblocker. He is a nice overall talent that has upside and could blossom into a very nice player over the next 2-3 years. Sleeper prospect.
