Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Mark Francis had a hunch.
Kansas' head coach saw how explosive sophomore defender Lauren Jackson’s speed was even with limited playing time as a freshman. With an offseason of strength and conditioning training under her belt, Francis wondered if Jackson’s 40-yard dash time could stack up against former Kansas All-Americans, such as Caroline Smith and Holly Gault.
“I remember looking at it in preseason because I was just curious to see it compared to the other guys of previous years,” Francis said. “Her 40 time was the fastest of anyone who has ever played here.”
Jackson said she didn’t remember what time she ran (it’s 4.86 seconds), and she insisted she wasn’t sure whether she was even the fastest player on the team.
Sophomore defender Lauren Jackson charges upfield alongside Texas A&M's Rachel Shipley during a game in October. Coach Mark Francis said Jackson could be an All-American before she leaves the University in two years.
But her teammates know the truth. They see Jackson blow by people every day in practice.
“I think the first few steps Kim (Boyer) can keep up with her,” junior defender Estelle Johnson said. “But after she gets going five or six steps, there is no way you are going to catch her.”
One year after playing in 13 games as a freshman, including five starts, Jackson still isn’t comfortable talking about her game-changing speed or her rapid growth as a player, but the statistics say what she won’t.
Jackson is third on the team with 1,508 minutes played with 18 starts in 18 games played. She has locked down the starting right back spot in Francis’ backline and also added a goal and two assists to quadruple her point total from last season.
And although there have been the occasional reminders that Jackson is still learning her trade, Francis said she continued to improve tactically and technically as she becomes more comfortable with her role. It doesn’t hurt that her speed allowed her to take chances the average player couldn’t get away with.
“First and foremost, she is improving as a defender,” Francis said. “I don’t think there is going to be anybody that matches up with her that is going to beat her because of their speed.”
Jackson has also begun using her speed to turn her defense into instant offense on the counter attack, giving Kansas an additional attacking option down the right flank. It’s a dimension her game lacked last season as the coaching staff struggled to instill an attacking mentality in the young defender.
After attempting zero shots in 676 minutes on the field as a freshman, Jackson pulled the trigger nine times this season, contributing her first career goal against Missouri State and creating opportunities through her passing.
Jackson said that she had become comfortable carrying the ball into the attacking third but that she hadn’t quite mastered bypassing teammates for her own shot when the opportunity presented itself.
“I just feel like once I get to certain part of the field, I can’t go any further, and I have to go back to my position,” she said, laughing as she attempted to explain why she always seemed to look for the pass first regardless of the situation.
Francis said much of Jackson’s improvement came from a more mature attitude toward individual fitness and game preparation. Considering that she has two more years to improve and develop, Francis said Jackson could add to Kansas’ list of All-Americans before she left Lawrence.
The final ingredient seems to be gaining the same confidence in her own abilities that her teammates and coaches already have.
“She just doesn’t know how good she is,” Johnson said. “I think it’s kind of growing on her with maturity. She doesn’t give herself enough credit for how good a defender and how big a part of the team she is.”
— — Edited by Lauren Keith
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