Despite loss, Jackson enjoyed homecoming

Thursday, December 04, 2008

BOWLING GREEN – Unlike most high school or college football games, University of Georgia basketball player Albert Jackson recently learned homecoming contests don’t always mean smiles and easy victories.

Jackson, who played three years for Hopkins County Central, returned to southwest Kentucky on Tuesday evening to face Western Kentucky University at E.A. Diddle Arena. Hilltopper fans did little more than quell the volume of their boos during his pre-game introduction and once play began, the home team prevented Jackson from establishing his presence inside as Western prevailed 67-63.

Years removed from playing in various all-star games on the Diddle Arena floor, the former Storm standout expressed his feelings about being back in the arena.

“I love playing here,” Jackson said. “It’s a great atmosphere. They have a great crowd. I like the boos, the cheers, all of it.”

More than 7,000 fans jeered and cheered during the game, but Jackson had his own personal section of supporters.

“The whole city of Earlington was here from my mom, my grandma, my sister, my brother, my cousins, friends, everybody,” he said. “It was just great to come back and play. Win or lose, I was still happy to come home and play.”

Georgia led by as many as eight points during the first half, but Jackson struggled to find his rhythm offensively and as the game progressed his teammates labored to find the basket as well.

“Normally we’re good in the post as far as taking shots over people,” Jackson said. “I missed a dunk and two hook shots, (those are) my shots. We just weren’t on tonight.”

Jackson, a 6-11 center, said when he has difficulty creating points he alters his approach to the game.

“I think it makes me play harder personally because I feel like I have to do something to make up,” he said. “They depend on me to score and when I don’t score I have to do something else to help my team out.”

Struggling with his shot, Jackson made his impact under the basket with his size by collecting five rebounds and one block.

Georgia coach Dennis Felton said because of Jackson’s size and determination, he’s integral to the Bulldogs’ success.

“He’s a captain and he’s got a great heart and spirit,” Felton said. “We count on him to be our most reliable interior defender and rebounder. For instance, we played Santa Clara wa couple of games ago. They have a guy that’s 6-11, 280, averaging 20 (points) and 11 (rebounds). Albert was absolute key to us winning that game because he really, really got the job done on that big guy.”

During Tuesday’s contest, Jackson’s playing time was limited to eight minutes because he aggravated an ankle sprain sustained in a preseason exhibition game. Just two minutes into the second half, Albert elevated to block a shot, but committed a foul and landed awkwardly on his foot.

“I came down on it and I just tried to keep going and I hit it again,” he said. “Then, I had to come out and get it taped up again. I just have to work it back to health I guess. I might have to take some games off, I don’t know.”

Felton also said he has a bit of concern regarding Jackson’s ability to contribute consistently with such an injury.

“It’s hard for him to play more than a day or two without tweaking it, without coming down on somebody’s foot and rolling it again,” Felton said. “He’s really important to us and I think that’s kind of worrisome that he has that ankle injury.”

Despite the sore ankle and his team’s loss, Jackson said he takes a little solace being surrounded by familiar faces.

“It felt good just to come back home even though I didn’t come out and play like I would have liked to play back in front of all my friends and family,” he said. “It was great just coming back and being in front of people that grew up with me and saw me play in high school.”

Jackson didn’t leave home with a win, but that doesn’t mean he went empty-handed.

“I think my mom might have brought me some food, a little something to maybe cheer me up after a loss,” he said.