Persistence.
That’s the phrase Taiyanna Jackson makes use of when requested to explain how she’s gone from taking part in at Trinity Valley Neighborhood Faculty to changing into the No. 2 shot blocker within the nation at Kansas. The Jayhawk has at all times identified that her time is coming, however it’s additionally been a journey to get there.
Previous to coming to Kansas, Jackson performed two years of JUCO ball. Her resolution to go that route—regardless of being a four-star prospect in highschool at East Chicago Central HS and initially dedicated to Ole Miss—got here right down to her eager to discover her choices and open herself as much as one thing new. At Trinity Valley, Jackson was a NJCAA Area 14 Freshman of the Yr and averaged 10.3 factors per sport all through these two seasons.
Stats apart, what Jackson gained from the expertise ready her not simply athletically, however mentally, for the DI stage. “JUCO is completely completely different: the category sizes, the video games, how we journey, how we put together for video games and every part is simply completely different. Trinity Valley was enjoyable and I might say, like, it ready me for the psychological aspect DI,” she says, later including: “Being affected person and simply understanding that [my] time is coming [and] every part [I’ve] labored for, every part [I’ve] considered [and] dreamt of [is] finally going to return to life simply by being affected person,” Jackson tells us over Zoom in early March earlier than Choice Sunday.
By the point you’re studying this, Jackson and her squad are gearing up for March Insanity—the Jayhawks will tackle Michigan within the first spherical on March 23. To say Jackson has settled properly into the Jayhawks program can be an understatement: she’s thrived. As a junior she was the first-ever Jayhawk to be chosen to the Huge 12 All-Defensive Workforce and this season she’s turn into a lot of a defensive ace, her 3.1 blocks per sport has her at present ranked No. 2 within the nation in blocks, simply behind Stanford’s Cameron Brink.
Jackson has at all times had a knack shot blocking, however since arriving in Lawrence, she’s been challenged with taking part in towards opponents which might be greater, and extra skilled on the DI stage, then she was coming in. But it surely’s how she’s met that problem—and found that her footwork and strategy to protection is her speciality—that’s allowed her to make a serious impression. “[It was] my first time taking part in towards, like, DI basketball gamers,” she says wanting again at her first season at KU. “I at all times knew I used to be an excellent defender [and] I’m fast on my ft and that’s simply one thing that I’ve [as] a bonus in my place. I simply took satisfaction in that. I let my offensive sport come to me and let my protection take over.”
Jackson is fearless when she matches up towards opponents. Don’t sleep although: her offensive sport is there, too—she’s at present second on the crew in scoring with 12.6 ppg—however on the opposite finish of the ground, Jackson actually will get in her bag. “I actually simply love protection. It’s identical to, the thrill and the enjoyment you get if you’re blocking any individual’s shot. I don’t know, I identical to it,” she says now with a smile and a slight chuckle.
The fervour in her voice is clear, and at one level, Jackson motions a chef’s kiss along with her hand, as if evaluating the sensation of blocking somebody’s shot to a delicacy. When Kansas performed Houston in February, Jackson posted 9 blocked pictures amidst a double-double efficiency, propelling her to the highest of Jayhawks document e book with essentially the most profession blocked pictures in program historical past (270).
“Simply cease sleeping on her,” teammate Zakiyah Franklin informed The College Every day Kansan. “She’s been doing this. It’s not new to us…however folks across the nation must be placed on discover extra.” All season lengthy, Jackson has been proving time and time once more that that is simply what she does: a couple of video games later towards UCF, Jackson ran all the way in which from the publish to the highest of the important thing and blocked sophomore Taylor Gibson proper because the buzzer went off within the second quarter. She had yet one more monster double-double efficiency of 29 factors, 10 rebounds and even 4 blocks to assist seal the 65-53 win.
The Jayhawks will want that very same vitality from her forward of the NCAA event, the place they’ll look to make a run previous the second-round for the primary time since 2022. No matter what occurs, that is solely the start for Jackson, who has her sights set on the WNBA sooner or later. We will solely think about how her sport will develop on the subsequent stage.
“I want to go play on the subsequent stage. That’s the aim.”
Pictures by way of Getty Photographs. Portrait by way of KU Athletics.