Former USF Great Jackson Happy to 'Give Back' in New Role With Bulls
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, SEPT. 23, 2020 – Years after lighting up the scoreboard as a Bull, one of the best players in program history had a big surprise for USF men's basketball fans earlier this month.
"I'm back," said
Altron Jackson, the Bulls' second all-time leading scorer with 2,017 career points, in a social media video posted by the program.
Instead of knocking down jumpers, like he did often for USF from 1998-2002, Jackson is now on a mission to "give back" this time around as the
program's new Director of Player Development.
"I'm very excited, ecstatic, to be a part of a great coaching staff led by head coach
Brian Gregory," Jackson said. "I'm here to help these young men reach their goals in life. I've been down this road before, so I understand the ins and outs of a place that's been very dear to my heart."
Moving forward, Jackson gets to mentor a roster full of Bulls, making sure they move in the right direction academically and follow important compliance rules on the path to becoming the most successful student-athletes they can be.
"When you're a great person off the court, good things are gonna happen on the court," he said.
Bulls can see it to believe it, just by looking at inspirational Jackson and the incredible things he's accomplished at USF.
'Make That Dream a Reality'
Arriving at USF from Sarasota's Riverview High School, the 6-foot-6 forward made an impact right away, posting 11 points as a freshman in a big 93-76 win at Texas to open the 1998-99 season.
Jackson went on to total 98 double-digit scoring games as a Bull, the second most in school history, and averaged 18.2 points in each of his final three collegiate seasons. With 2,017 career points, he still ranks sixth all-time in scoring in Conference USA history. Jackson is one of only two players in USF history to be named All-Conference USA three different times.
"You look back, I wouldn't say you forget, but you kind of put them in storage," said the 40-year-old of past basketball feats. "Once you go back into the storage and you see some of the things you accomplished, it's like, 'Wow, did I really do all those things?'"
In addition to still being USF's second-best scorer, Jackson still ranks second all-time in field goals made (776), fourth in free throws made (335), 10th in three-point field goals made (133) and fourth in steals (181).
"Growing up, my mom always taught me to work hard and to dream big, and to make that dream a reality," said Jackson of his late mother, Jackie. "… She's always with me and she always said greatness was inside of me. Just fight and never give up."
Doing just that – and battling through ailments along the way – helped Jackson accomplish another amazing feat. Throughout four seasons, including two postseason trips, the former forward never missed a game, appearing in 122, and said he never missed a practice during his Bulls career.
"I was blessed because a lot of injuries occur," he said. "I sprained ankles and stuff, but I played through it."
Jackson went on to play professionally in Hungary, Germany and France for at least five years but eventually headed back to Tampa to finish some very important business. Jackson linked back up with legendary Lee Roy Selmon, one of his past mentors, and made sure to finish strong academically while serving as a team manager for USF men's basketball during the 2009-10 season.
"Never give up on your goals," said Jackson, who graduated from USF in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary social sciences.
USF Grad Gives Back – A Lot
Jackson has made a grand return to USF after spending six "great" years working as a Player Development Coach at IMG Academy in nearby Bradenton.
While helping potential stars rise on the court, Jackson also inspired even younger generations of students over the past two years. First, he worked as a Reading and Mentor Coach at Tuttle Elementary School in Sarasota.
"It was great to be around young people; I was one of them. They probably thought I was Michael Jordan or somebody," he said with a laugh.
Jackson did more listening and guiding in another mentoring role the next year at Booker Middle School, also in his home city of Sarasota.
"That's all I want to do is give back to young people, to share my knowledge and to listen to the some of the things they have to say, have an open ear to them," he said.
Jackson jumped at the chance to continue molding more minds back at his alma mater when the Director of Player Development position for USF men's basketball became available.
"I bleed Green and Gold, and this program is dear to my heart," he said.
Jackson returns to USF's Tampa campus, where he found his way and "became a young man" by the time his professional career began in 2002. In his new USF role, Jackson is proud to pay it forward as an important part of the Bulls' basketball program that's rising once again.
"I always had a dream of coming back and helping these young men," he said.
Jackson fondly watched from afar as USF reached double-digit wins in Coach Gregory's debut season with the program in 2017-18. One season later, the Bulls completed the best turnaround in the NCAA, winning a school record 24 games and capturing the College Basketball Invitational title.
Much healthier than last season and loaded with even more talent, USF opened eyes by appearing in the fourth spot on CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein's American Athletic Conference 2020-21
preseason power rankings.
"Now, it's time to relive those magical years," Jackson said. "We have a great leader in Coach Gregory, a great coach and a great man, who knows how to run a program. He's gonna get it back to where it needs to be."
Jackson is thankful to have a place in the program-building project while he soaks up the experience of being around several accomplished coaches in the sport he loves.
"When I came in, I was a sponge as a young rookie, as a freshman. Now I'm a freshman as a Director of Player Development and I just want to learn from those guys," he said. "I'm just happy to be a part of a great staff."
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF men's' basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
About USF Men's Basketball
The USF men's basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory. On March 22, 2017, Gregory was introduced as the 10th head coach in program history. He previously led programs at Georgia Tech (2011-16) and Dayton (2003-11). Gregory spent nearly a decade as an assistant coach under Michigan State's Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo and helped the Spartans win the 2000 NCAA National Championship. Gregory owns nearly 300 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship. In his second season at the helm of the Bulls, Gregory led the team to the best win turnaround in the NCAA, the most single-season wins in school history and the 2019 College Basketball Invitational championship.
USF has retired three numbers in its 47-year history: Chucky Atkins (12), Charlie Bradley (30) and Radenko Dobras (31). The Bulls have earned three NCAA tournament bids, appeared in the NIT eight times and won the 2019 College Basketball Invitational.
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