UC's Jackson happiest when blocking shots
Feb. 13, 2014
Written by
Bill Koch


Few things have been more entertaining during a University of Cincinnati basketball game this season than a Justin Jackson blocked shot.

It’s not just the fact that he blocks the shot, it’s how far he travels to block it, the patented Jackson mean face that follows the block and the reaction it inspires from his teammates.

When it happens – as it has 79 times this season – Jackson is in his element.

“It means more to me than anything,” Jackson said.

Jackson would rather block a shot than dunk over an opponent or grab a rebound. He’s one of those rare players who prefers to play defense over offense. While some players hunt shots because they’re so focused on scoring, Jackson hunts shots to block because it gives him such an emotional lift.

“It’s a boost,” Jackson said.

The 6-foot-8 senior center is the latest in a long line of shot-blocking specialists that have graced the UC program over the years, joining the likes of Kenyon Martin, Eric Hicks, Jason Maxiell and Cheikh Mbodj.

“They’re hard to find,” said UC coach Mick Cronin. “It’s a luxury.”

The benefits are obvious. A reliable shot blocker not only deters his own man from scoring, but if he’s as quick and athletic as Jackson, he can also compensate when a teammate makes a mistake or gambles on defense. And he can keep opponents guessing because they never know where Jackson might be lurking.

Jackson is so good at coming from seemingly nowhere to block a shot Cronin uses him as a teaching tool.

“He’s quick off the floor and he’s got good anticipation,” Cronin said. “He does a really good job of reading the offensive player. I have him talk to our freshmen guards about how, against a guy like him, if he sees that you don’t see him coming, he’s going to leave his man and come block your shot off the glass, things that didn’t happen to them in high school.”

With six games remaining in the regular season, Jackson leads the American Athletic Conference and ranks 14th nationally with 3.16 blocks per game. He’s tied for sixth nationally in total blocks.

He has swatted a career-high seven shots in a game twice and has blocked five or more five times. Jackson has blocked at least one shot in all but two games – South Carolina Upstate and Temple when he played only six minutes due to injury.

He needs five more to crack the top five in school history for most blocks in a season behind Hicks (113), Martin (107), Maxiell (91) and Mbodj (90.) At this rate, he’ll pass both Maxiell and Mbodj for third.

With his long arms and his quickness, Jackson has demonstrated a knack for blocking shots ever since he arrived at UC as a freshman in 2010, but his specialty has become a more effective weapon for UC this year for two reasons: He was moved to a position where he had more opportunities to reject shots and he has done a better job of avoiding foul trouble, although he still struggles occasionally to stay on the floor.

“I think it’s definitely helped him playing center on this team and defending the rim where he’s close to the basket,” Cronin said, “where if he’s a switching four man in our system he’s spending a lot of time away from the basket, which didn’t play to his strength.”

Jackson already is among the elite shot blockers in UC history. With 199 career blocks, he ranks fourth for his career behind Martin (292), Hicks (256) and Maxiell (252). But don’t ask him to hold forth on what he likes most about blocking a shot or to describe exactly what he feels when he swats one out of bounds. For Jackson, there’s only one feeling, regardless of the circumstances.

“I just like blocking shots period,” Jackson said. “Anything that’s got to do with a block, I’m good.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20140...RONTPAGE|p

I LOVE having a shot blocking threat. Some would argue it is more valuable than a spot up sharp shooter. I have to admit, I haven't really kept up on who they have coming in next year (I try to enjoy the moment instead of looking ahead). Are there any "erasers" in next years class?