Drawing inspiration from grandma
inspiration from grandma
Senior's love for game was assisted by the woman who raised her
February 5, 2010BY JOHN O'MALLEY, POST-TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT
Juaneice Jackson can't even imagine her life without basketball. Calumet's senior point guard is absolutely, positively head over heels in love with the game.
While Jackson can't even imagine a life without hoops, she really can't even fathom what her life might possibly be like without her 72-year-old grandmother.
Gloria Jackson raised Juaneice, and her three sisters (Britteney, Dominique and Jessica), a cousin (Song-Hee), along with four of her own children.
She loved them. Disciplined them. Taught them all right from wrong. Supported their dreams, gave them hope and provided them with life lessons along the way.
"I don't really know where I'd be today without her," said Jackson, whose mother died before Juaneice's seventh birthday.
"I never really thought about that. Without my grandma, though, I know I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't go to Calumet right now. My life wouldn't ever be as positive as it is right now, without her."
Juaneice's grandmother has been battling health problems. She suffers from arthritis and has some heart problems.
As a result of her physical condition, she hasn't been able to attend Jackson's games at Calumet this year like she has in the past.
"She really means a lot to me," Jackson said. "She sacrificed a lot for me and my sisters while we were growing up. Even though she hasn't been able to be there to watch me this year, I still play my best and go my hardest, because that's what she would want me to do. She always wants me to succeed and do my best. She still supports me. I understand why she's not there."
Jackson's grandmother attended about half of the team's games last season.
"I wouldn't be here playing basketball right now if it wasn't for her," Jackson said. "She's always been there for me. I love the game so much. She took me to all my practices and games growing up. No one else could really do that for me.
"She took me everywhere and paid for everything I needed. I didn't want to get sad over it -- her not being there (in the stands) this year -- because it was something out of my control. But yeah, I did miss her not being there."
Jackson's grandmother, though, is planning on attending Calumet's sectional opener against Knox at next week's Class 3A Kankakee Valley Sectional.
"I'm looking forward to her coming to watch us," said Jackson, who from the very moment she picked up a ball at the age of six, fell madly in love with the game.
"I love the game so much, I really do," she said. "I love to play basketball. I love to watch basketball. I just really love everything about it."
Jackson loves the game so much she even applied for a job as a ball girl for the Indiana Fever a couple of years ago.
Her grandmother, of course, drove her to Indianapolis for what turned out to be a 10, maybe 15-minute interview.
Jackson did that just for the opportunity to work for a WNBA team and rub elbows with her favorite player, Tamika Catchings.
After filling out the job application and answering some questions, the self-proclaimed WNBA fanatic was offered a job and gladly accepted.
"That was the best time in the world," said Jackson, who loves music and claims to know the words to every song recorded from the '70s to the present.
"I didn't make that much money, but it was so exciting. The first time I got to see Tamika, I was so happy. I got to rebound for her and chat with her. I sat right there under the basket and watched her play."
Jackson's voice heightens with excitement just talking about the experience of watching her professional favorites playing the game she dearly loves.
One day, Jackson hopes to play at the highest level herself, but presently she has only one goal in mind -- preparing for next week's KV Sectional opener with Knox.
"I'm really excited about the sectional," Jackson said. "I've waited all season for it. I think we have a shot -- a very good shot to make it to the championship game."
While Jackson and her teammates would like nothing better than a chance to atone for last year's overtime loss to Griffith in the title game, she's also looking forward to the postseason for another reason.
Jackson is anxiously looking forward to seeing her grandmother in the stands again, watching her play.
"She has trouble walking and she can't really walk for long periods of time," Jackson said. "Doctors and nurses come to our house to help her."
Jackson, the No. 4 scorer in the area (19.7 ppg.) is optimistic about the postseason.
"I think any of the six teams in our sectional could win it," she said. "You never know what could happen. Even though we lost a lot from last year (three starters) we've done pretty well. We're learning to play pretty well with each other."
Jackson has had a great deal to do with that, having made the necessary adjustment to the point guard spot this season after Megan Leal (now at IUN) graduated.
While Jackson made the transition, she admits it took some doing.
"My teammates helped me out a lot," she said. "It was a big change for them, too. I wasn't used to being at the point and they weren't, either, but now, they are."
Jackson said it took herself and her teammates the whole summer to become comfortable with her at the point.
"A lot of times things would be my fault," she said. "They knew it wasn't my position, and that I had to get used to it. At first, I had so many turnovers. We'd be yelling at each other. But my teammates and my coach (Dori Downing) really encouraged me. My coach said she believed I could do it, but it's one of the hardest positions on the floor to play."
Downing said a lot of Jackson's natural skills helped her make the transition.
"I think she's done a great job with it," Downing said. "I don't think it affected her that much. She knew that it was coming."
Jackson, who's still undecided about her college plans, played the point for her AAU team -- the Baylor Lady Bucs. The team finished second in the open bracket division at the national tournament in Orlando, Fla., last summer.
Some of her teammates included Merrillville's Bryonna Davis and Tracee Mitchell and Andrean's Diamyn Rembert.
The Warriors, who were 14-6 heading into Thursday night's game at Griffith, have made some noise this season with "Action" Jackson running the show.
"She means a lot to our team," Downing said. "She's a competitor and our floor leader. She's not a vocal leader. We don't have a vocal leader on our team -- that just doesn't exist. Juaneice is our leader because of her extreme talent, and in terms of what she's capable of doing. She uses that talent to help us be successful.
"She's one of the best players to ever put on a Calumet uniform."
2/5/2010 12:00:00 AM
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