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Jackson’s actions helping Penguins
By STEVE WILAJ
youngstown
Looking back, Youngstown State forward Janae Jackson realizes she could have taken the easy way out. And really — after a transfer from Northern Illinois, a coaching change after one year and a brutal season-ending injury the next — who could blame her?
“It would have been easy to just say, ‘Forget this, I’m gonna stop,’” Jackson said. “But it takes that positive attitude to keep pushing. It was tough, but it was doable.”
Finally, Jackson — the Penguins’ lone senior and a 2011 graduate of Inkster High in Detroit, Mich. — is in a good place.
She has started eight of 13 games for YSU (11-2, 2-0 Horizon League) — including the last five — and is coming off the best performance of her career: 14 points and seven rebounds in a 72-70 Penguins win on Saturday in her hometown of Detroit in front of about 35 friends and family members.
“It felt good because I haven’t really played there since high school,” said Jackson, who averages eight points and six rebounds. “So it honestly felt really good to go in and perform a little bit and help our team get the win.
“I’ve been through the transfer and tearing my ACL — so there’s been a lot going on. But to come from that and to be where I’m at now, I’m blessed to be in this situation. I’m grateful and I don’t take anything for granted. I’m just glad that I’m able to be here and be able to contribute with a team that’s winning and doing so well.”
YSU will try to continue its winning ways this week with two games at the Beeghly Center. The first is on Thursday at 5:15 p.m. against Milwaukee (6-6, 0-1), followed by a matchup with conference power Green Bay on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
The Penguins will certainly need another strong game out of Jackson if they’re to beat the Phoenix (11-2, 1-0). Luckily, the 5-foot-9 veteran seems to just be heating up.
Jackson has scored eight-plus points in five of the past six games, including 10 or more in three of those. She has also grabbed at least seven rebounds in three of the last four games, notching 10 boards in a win against Tennessee State on Dec. 30.
“Janae’s done a great job this year,” YSU head coach John Barnes said. “It’s really hard for her — she was pretty much out of the game for three years or longer, not really having any time on the court. Last year, she was kind of spotty, in and out with minutes.
“But we really have to rely on her this year. She’s done a great job of using her physicality and athleticism to do good things, whether that’s rebounding or getting to the rim and making plays. She’s easily having the best year of her career and it’s very nice for her.”
Coming out of her Detroit-area high school — which she led to a state championship in 2010-11 — Jackson joined Northern Illinois despite being recruited by the likes of Michigan, Michigan State and Toledo.
She played just 32 minutes her freshman year and decided to transfer to YSU, which was still coached by Bob Boldon at the time. The move required Jackson to sit out the 2012-13 season (Boldon’s last), while she then tore the ACL in her left knee before the 2013-14 season (Barnes’ first) and missed the entire campaign.
Last year, she finally returned to the court and played in 28 games off the bench, although she averaged just 6.1 minutes.
“It can take a toll, mentally, those things that set you back,” Jackson said. “But that’s life. Things happen and things get in the way, but it’s up to you to keep that positive attitude, keep pushing and keep moving and that’s what I did.”
Now, as the lone senior and playing with nine underclassmen, it’s finally her time — an opportunity she’s certainly not taking for granted.
“Being a senior, I feel I should be leading in some way — whether it be vocally or physically,” Jackson said. “I just feel that my key role is to just continue to play well, but to also incorporate my teammates. With it being my last year, I just have to go all out and give it everything I have.”