Friday, January 25, 2008
In the first four seconds of Kansas’ home conference opener against Oklahoma, senior forward Darnell Jackson came up big, making a dunk off the opening tip. In just the opening seconds of the game, Jackson made the same statement he had been making all year on the basketball court: he is Kansas’ most valuable player.
Kansas players certainly let Jackson himself know how they felt about the dunk shot. “Brandon (Rush), Mario (Chalmers) and Russell (Robinson) told me that the dunk is what set the tone for the game,” Jackson said after the game. “I was just trying to make sure that I hustled the ball down and then next thing I know, I was looking for a dunk.”
Once again, in Kansas’ road game against Missouri, Jackson made a key lay-up while being fouled by sophomore guard Keon Lawrence. Jackson went to the free-throw line and sank his bonus shot, giving the Jayhawks a 56-49 lead, their largest of the game at that point, with 12:31 remaining in the second half.
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On Wednesday night against Iowa State, Jackson had his first double-double of the season, scoring 21 points and getting 11 rebounds.
On Wednesday night against Iowa State, Jackson had his first double-double of the season, scoring 21 points and getting 11 rebounds. Before Wednesday night’s game against Iowa State, Jackson had scored more than 20 points in three other games.
Before conference play began on Dec. 31, Bill Self said on his Hawk Talk radio show that Jackson was Kansas’ most improved player. Now, four games into conference play, Jackson is averaging 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. For a player who averaged 5.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, Jackson clearly has more than improved and has been a vital part of Kansas’ frontcourt.
After Julian Wright’s early departure for the NBA last season, it was unclear who would fill in for the vacant spot at forward. Wright, who averaged 12 points per game and 7.8 rebounds, was a key part of last year’s success in reaching the Elite Eight. Sophomore Darrell Arthur has done a great job at forward, averaging 13.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, but it is Jackson who is Kansas’ most complete player.
Whether Jackson is making a jump shot, a lay-up in the paint or a mid-range jump shot, the 6-foot-8 forward is very consistent, which is reflected by his .682 field-goal percentage. For Jackson however, it is not about statistics.
“I don’t care about any of the points. If we win, then I am glad,” Jackson said after scoring 21 points in the first game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe. “If I would have had two points, I would have been happy with that as long as we win.”
Jackson started the season as Kansas’ sixth man off the bench, now he is playing to the level of an all-conference player. To Jackson, his improvement and role in becoming a key player on this season’s Jayhawk team have all come as a surprise.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I always talk to my mom and I ask her `Can you believe it?’ and she’ll always say, `No, I can’t believe it,’” said Jackson after the Iowa State game. “This is just out of the blue, I don’t know why it’s happening. I’m just trying to go out there and help my team.”
With Kansas ranked No. 2 in the AP poll and 19-0, 4-0 in conference play, Jackson will be a key part in Kansas’ continued success in its quest for its fourth straight Big 12 title. Given Jackson’s stellar play and size, he might just find himself drafted by the NBA after the season, somewhere during the second round, if projections are correct. One thing is certain though: Jackson is Kansas’ most valuable player right now.
— Edited by Jared Duncan
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