Forever UC Bearcats: Saying Goodbye To Cincinnati’s Seniors

Feb 6, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats forward Justin Jackson (5) celebrates with the student section at the end of the game against the Connecticut Huskies at FifthThird Arena. Cincinnati defeated UConn 63-58. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Jackson

• Hometown: Cocoa Beach, Florida
• High School: Arlington Country Day
• Seasons At Cincinnati: 4
• Nickname: #MeanFace, #MeanMuggin, #JumpinJack (hash tagging is a must)
• Best game: Chicago State; December 23, 2013
• Best play: So many to choose from! How about this trailing block on Aaron Craft in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

Justin Jackson was as enigmatic of a player as you’ll ever see step foot on the campus at Clifton. He came to Cincinnati by way of Arlington Country Day just like class of 2010 signee Kelvin Gaines, who is now playing for North Texas. Jackson quickly earned the reputation as an uncontrollable sparkplug akin to the blindfolded bull in the proverbial china shop. He seemed equally adept at coming off the bench and making a game changing block or picking up a pair of fouls in less than a minute. That has always been Justin Jackson’s M.O. at Cincinnati even throughout his senior year.

Like Kilpatrick, Jackson was a bench player his freshman year, participating in every single game but playing just 12.9 minutes. When Ibrahima Thomas graduated, JJ was installed as Yancy Gates’ partner in the paint, earning 20 starts as a sophomore and never looking back. Jackson quickly established himself as a blocking machine and one of the most athletic forwards to come through Cincinnati since the Bob Huggins era. He paced all players with 1.6 blocks per game. With Gates gone after the 2011-12 season, Jackson experienced a down year as a junior but bounced back as a senior this past season. He is scoring at a rate of 11 points per game, which is second best on the team, and paces UC in rebounds (avg 6.9) and of course blocks (avg 2.9).

Despite some of his flaws, the 6’9″ forward consistently provided the necessary energy that truly revved up the team and the fans. Jackson really seemed to put it all together this past season leading all forwards in points, rebounds, and blocks per game. He even notched six double-doubles this year. Jackson was leaned upon heavily this season and the argument can be made that he was more instrumental to UC’s current 24-5 record and #15 ranking than Sean Kilpatrick. The power forward is playing the five spot in 2013-14 but really is better floating around the four, which he played as a sophomore with Yancy Gates locking down the low post. In addition to being tasked at an uncharacteristic position, Jackson is essentially UC’s only option there this season since Kelvin Gaines transferred, Octavius Ellis was kicked off the team, and Jamaree Strickland was shafted by the NCAA.

So the fact that the senior has performed so well in a relatively unfamiliar role in 2013-14 is mighty impressive and has helped him go out as one of the most memorable and almost universally well-liked Bearcats of all time.