PEAK PERFORMERS: Ready for the big time

Considered by many as one of Colorado's alltime best players, Reggie Jackson was named the state's 2008 Gatorade Player of the Year. The versatile 6-foot-3 senior guard averaged 29.6 points a game and led Palmer to the 5A state semifinals, a 24-3 record and the 5A Metro championship. For those accomplishments, he's The Gazette's Big Schools Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

The high-flying Jackson - who moved to Colorado Springs from Fort Pierce, Fla., as a sixth-grader - will continue his hoops career at Boston College, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Who taught you to play basketball?

My whole family: my dad and my mom and my two brothers. Everybody in my family played ball. They bought me a little ball when I was little and I learned to dribble about when I learned to walk. The most was probably my brother, Travis. My brother, Trez, was a super-fast point guard who could go all day. Travis was an outstanding shooter. I tried to take pieces from both of their games and make it mine.

Who's the best shooter in your family?

Travis is still the best shooter, probably. My dad can still play. I'm third. Maybe someday I can catch up to them.

Where do you think you fit in when it comes to great players in Colorado history?

One day I hope to be considered one of the best. I just play. That's for the media and the coaches to decide. For somebody like (Doherty) coach (Dan) McKiernan - a man who won state championships and has been around for so long - to say I'm the best he's seen in 42 years surprised me. But that meant a lot to me because I have a lot of respect for him.

How would you describe yourself as a person?

I want to be a regular kid. I'm an in-the-moment kind of person.

You have been known to celebrate on the court with teammates. How would you answer those who say you are too cocky or do too much of that?

I play with my emotions. I'm passionate. If somebody makes me mad on the court, I may try to get him back. I try to be down-to-earth. Maybe I do take it over the top sometimes. I don't mean anything bad to anybody.

What's your long-term goal?

If I could be an NBA lottery pick or go pro, that would be great. If that doesn't work out, I'd like to keep working with athletes, maybe in physical therapy or something like that.

What was the best thing about this season?

The bonds I made with my teammates. We were all so close and went through so much together. The relationships I had with the coaches were special, too.

What's the best thing about coach Jimmy Grantz?

He's a great coach. He lets us do what we do. He takes advantage of what players do best. We had players who could attack, so our offense was based on the perimeter with a big guy screening and rolling. He understands the game and adjusts to players to get the most out of them.

What three people would you most like to have dinner with?

My brother, Travis, and LeBron (James) and Michael Jordan.

What are you looking forward to most at Boston College?

Making new relationships with the coaches and my teammates. Trying to change what happened there this year (14-17). Because it wasn't the best year for them. I'm looking forward to all the new experiences.

How much do you expect to play as a freshman?

I'm going to do my best this offseason to become a starter. I'm going to become more physically fit. They're in a tough league. I'm going to work on the quickness of my shot and my release.

What play will you remember most from this season?

Probably when we played Gateway (in the playoffs at Palmer), with 47 seconds left and a packed gym and it was a close game and I dunked over their guy. Probably the dunk against ThunderRidge was the best.

What's the best thing about your game?

Probably that I'll do whatever it takes to win. If I score two points and get 15 assists or if I score 40 it doesn't matter to me. I just want the team to win.

What's the worst thing about your game?

Probably when I get inside the paint, I don't see the floor as well. I just look to score. It's something I need to work on.

When you look back on the season, will you mostly remember all the successes or the disappointment of losing in the semifinals the most?

I'll remember both. It hurt to lose and not reach our goal. But not a lot of people thought we could go that far.