The University of Mississippi Athletics
Meet The Women's Hoops Freshmen: Mo Jackson
10/17/2011 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 17, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss women's basketball freshman Mo Jackson, a 6-1 freshman forward from Phenix City, Ala., is adjusting well to the speed and pace of practices and what it will take to be ready for SEC basketball.
"I've always been kind of a mental person and you have to be very strong mentally to play in college, I've seen that already," Jackson said. "I saw it on the first practice here and the hardest practice for me was that first practice. After that, it clicked for me and I knew I had to pick up the speed. The biggest transition for me was the speed and the way of thinking. You have to be smart and you have to be quick because this is the SEC. I don't mind change, if coach asked me to run through a brick wall I probably would."
Jackson is ranked as the 42nd best post player in this year's class by ESPN HoopGurlz and was a four year starter at Central-Phenix High School and was a two-time Bi-City Player of the Year by the Columbus Ledger Enquirer. She was coached and mentored by her AAU coach, Tim Marshall, from the time she was 10.
"Tim is one of my biggest motivators, besides my parents who are going to be always there and going to stand beside me. If there is anybody who didn't let me slack off, who had faith in me when I didn't have faith in myself, it had to be Tim Marshall."
Jackson got an early start in basketball in the fourth grade when one of her teachers saw her shooting and suggested she meet a basketball coach.
"I got introduced to basketball when I was in fourth grade. I was in P.E. and everyone was on the other side of the gym playing soccer and I was by the goal. I was shooting the ball in the air making them," Jackson said. "My P.E. coach come up to me and said `you are pretty good at that.' She knew an AAU coach and she told me I should meet him the next week. He came and told me to do some drill work. I was a tall, skinny, lanky kid and when I played for him, he saw something in me and he asked me if I wanted play basketball and I said OK."
Ole Miss is less than a month from its season opener against North Florida on November 11. Jackson said the team has a whole new look and has great team chemistry. In addition, she said playing for head coach Renee Ladner was a great choice for her since Ladner is very similar to Marshall.
"I love playing for coach Ladner. She is more than a coach," Jackson said. "When you hear her talk, she reminds me of my mother, but she is still my coach. I love playing for her. As a team we are ready for this year. There is a whole new chemistry and everyone has their job and I'm so excited about this team."
