Danté had many 'shining moments'
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Has it been four years already?
Where did the time go?
Last Friday marked the end of the collegiate career of one of Greenfield's own, but it ended on one of the biggest stages that a career could end on.
Xavier senior and McClain High School graduate Danté Jackson wrapped up his highly successful collegiate basketball career in the Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in Cleveland.
The 66-55 loss to Marquette may have marked the end of his career, but from that first game vs. SE Missouri St. on Nov. 10, 2007 at the Cintas Center to the final game against Marquette on March 18, 2011, Jackson represented his hometown and Highland County with pride and respect, and if kids want to look up to someone on the basketball court, they should look no further than Jackson.
Can it really be over four years since Jackson signed his National Letter of Intent in the hallway in front of the MHS trophy cases?
Has it really been almost half a decade since Jackson, then a high school senior, led MHS to a 23-1 record, where he averaged 26.4 ppg his senior season, along with 11.5 rebounds per game and 5.2 assists per game?
That was the season where the Tigers went 20-0 in the regular season, ranked No. 1 in the Division II Associated Press poll, reaching the district finals.
What is your favorite moment of Jackson's collegiate career?
Like the end video to cap off a NCAA tournament, Jackson had many "shining moments" these past four seasons.
Cue the Luther Vandross music ... “The ball is tipped/and there you are/you’re running for your life/you’re a shooting star.
“And all the years/no one knows/just how hard you worked/but now it shows.
“One shining moment, It’s all on the line/One shining moment, there frozen in time.”
One of the biggest moments on the court that most will not forget came his freshman season in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Remember that 3-pointer against the Georgia Bulldogs? That shot started the Musketeers' rally, which didn't end until the Elite 8 that season.
Thinking about it now, how cool is it to know that a graduate from MHS, probably their best player that has ever stepped foot on the court at MHS, played in the NCAA Elite 8, going head-to-head with some of the best teams in college basketball? He also played in three Sweet 16s.
Also, how many people can say they played four years of collegiate basketball, in Division I, and not only played on a successful team, but played in the NCAA tournament four years straight?
Not many.
Remember the half-court (or longer) buzzer beater in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off during the 2008-09 season?
Amazing.
This season, Jackson started 32 games for XU, averaging 35.3 minutes per game. He totaled 7.9 ppg, along with 3.1 rebounds per game.
Jackson might not have been the leading scorer for the Musketeers, but he represented the team better than anyone, doing what he needed to do to make his team successful.
Jackson is a class act in my book.
He finished his XU career with 795 points, where he played 1,130 minutes this season.
This season, Jackson's highest scoring total was 19 points against Duquesne on Feb. 13. He had nine games of 10 or more points.
Jackson brought a sense of leadership that was unequaled to the Musketeers.
Even during his freshman season, he would huddle up the team to calm them down. It seemed as though Jackson was a born leader when he stepped onto any basketball court.
Still, the question is, where did the time go?
From being one of, if not the best player in McClain High School history, to being a productive member for the Musketeers, it has been a pleasure to watch Danté live and on TV these past few years.
Jackson represented his hometown, school and community very well as a member of the XU team. He was fun to watch, and best of luck to him in the next stage of his life.
Congratulations, Danté.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Where did the time go?
Last Friday marked the end of the collegiate career of one of Greenfield's own, but it ended on one of the biggest stages that a career could end on.
Xavier senior and McClain High School graduate Danté Jackson wrapped up his highly successful collegiate basketball career in the Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in Cleveland.
The 66-55 loss to Marquette may have marked the end of his career, but from that first game vs. SE Missouri St. on Nov. 10, 2007 at the Cintas Center to the final game against Marquette on March 18, 2011, Jackson represented his hometown and Highland County with pride and respect, and if kids want to look up to someone on the basketball court, they should look no further than Jackson.
Can it really be over four years since Jackson signed his National Letter of Intent in the hallway in front of the MHS trophy cases?
Has it really been almost half a decade since Jackson, then a high school senior, led MHS to a 23-1 record, where he averaged 26.4 ppg his senior season, along with 11.5 rebounds per game and 5.2 assists per game?
That was the season where the Tigers went 20-0 in the regular season, ranked No. 1 in the Division II Associated Press poll, reaching the district finals.
What is your favorite moment of Jackson's collegiate career?
Like the end video to cap off a NCAA tournament, Jackson had many "shining moments" these past four seasons.
Cue the Luther Vandross music ... “The ball is tipped/and there you are/you’re running for your life/you’re a shooting star.
“And all the years/no one knows/just how hard you worked/but now it shows.
“One shining moment, It’s all on the line/One shining moment, there frozen in time.”
One of the biggest moments on the court that most will not forget came his freshman season in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Remember that 3-pointer against the Georgia Bulldogs? That shot started the Musketeers' rally, which didn't end until the Elite 8 that season.
Thinking about it now, how cool is it to know that a graduate from MHS, probably their best player that has ever stepped foot on the court at MHS, played in the NCAA Elite 8, going head-to-head with some of the best teams in college basketball? He also played in three Sweet 16s.
Also, how many people can say they played four years of collegiate basketball, in Division I, and not only played on a successful team, but played in the NCAA tournament four years straight?
Not many.
Remember the half-court (or longer) buzzer beater in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off during the 2008-09 season?
Amazing.
This season, Jackson started 32 games for XU, averaging 35.3 minutes per game. He totaled 7.9 ppg, along with 3.1 rebounds per game.
Jackson might not have been the leading scorer for the Musketeers, but he represented the team better than anyone, doing what he needed to do to make his team successful.
Jackson is a class act in my book.
He finished his XU career with 795 points, where he played 1,130 minutes this season.
This season, Jackson's highest scoring total was 19 points against Duquesne on Feb. 13. He had nine games of 10 or more points.
Jackson brought a sense of leadership that was unequaled to the Musketeers.
Even during his freshman season, he would huddle up the team to calm them down. It seemed as though Jackson was a born leader when he stepped onto any basketball court.
Still, the question is, where did the time go?
From being one of, if not the best player in McClain High School history, to being a productive member for the Musketeers, it has been a pleasure to watch Danté live and on TV these past few years.
Jackson represented his hometown, school and community very well as a member of the XU team. He was fun to watch, and best of luck to him in the next stage of his life.
Congratulations, Danté.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]