THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 6, 1995 TAG: 9501060585
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
When Shaun Jackson mustered enough nerve to get a tattoo, he had two ideas in mind.
``I either wanted a bear's head or a dog's head,'' Jackson said, grinning at the memory.
Either would fit his on-court persona. When it comes to rebounding, the 6-foot-7, 195-pounder is a grizzly. And as for playing defense, the Maury senior does so with dogged determination.
Jackson's trip to Ancient Art Tattoo Studio in Portsmouth resulted in a big bear's head on his left shoulder.
Combined with a disheveled head of hair he says he hasn't combed in years - ``My mom says it's a phase I'm going through'' - Jackson will be impossible to miss in tonight's key Eastern District game between Maury, South Hampton Roads' No. 3-ranked team, and No. 2 Booker T. Washington.
Even without the hair and the tattoo, Jackson would not be without a signature. In leading Maury to a 9-1 mark, he has become the area's premier big man.
Jackson is averaging 17.3 points and 14.2 rebounds a game, has 28 blocked shots and 32 steals, and is shooting 61 percent from the field. Last week while leading Maury to the Catholic Holiday Invitational title, Jackson was named tournament most valuable player.
``Once you get past the tattoos and the hair, you've got a hard-nosed kid who loves to play,'' said Maury coach Jack Baker. ``In my 19 years coaching at Maury, I've never had a player work as hard as he does. He's unique. He's from the old school.''
Baker nearly cut Jackson from the varsity two years ago, but kept him ``because he worked so doggone hard in practice.'' Jackson was only 6-foot-4 then and Maury had 6-foot-9 center Joe Smith, now an All-American at Maryland.
``At practice, most of the other players on the team would get out of Joe's way when he came into the lane,'' Jackson said. ``Even though he would dunk on me, I always went up. I guess I'm feisty. I always wanted to get a hand up or something.''
The year spent as Smith's understudy paid off when Jackson averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds last season and was named first-team All-Eastern District and second-team All-Tidewater.
Jackson only wishes he matured as rapidly in the classroom as he did on the basketball court.
``I messed my grades up last year by making stupid mistakes,'' said Jackson, who is making A's and B's this year. ``I could have breezed through, but I had an attitude. Now I know I want to go to college and play. I guess there had to be an incentive there.''
Salvaging the necessary grade-point average for Division I schools to show serious interest this year might be out of reach, but Jackson is confident he'll be playing somewhere next season. Baker says Indian Hills, a junior college power in Centerville, Iowa, has been calling repeatedly.
Two years in junior college and Jackson figures he'll be ready for the ACC. Heck, he thinks he's ready now.
``I figure I'll play small forward in college and I'm better than most small forwards playing in the ACC right now,'' Jackson said. ``I can't mess with Bob Sura at Florida State or (UNC's) Jerry Stackhouse, but I think I'm as good as (Maryland's) Exree Hipp and I know I'm better than (Virginia's) Jason Williford.''
Baker shrugs at the suggestion, knowing Jackson can be part ham, part scrambled egg.
``Well, he doesn't fear anything, nobody intimidates him and he's a little rough-edged,'' Baker said. ``By himself, Shaun can't take us where we want to go. We can't just jump on his back and ride him to a state title. The people around him have to play well. But he is our heart and soul.''
Where Jackson wants to go is to the state playoffs. He says if the Commodores win an Eastern Region title, ``I'll shave my head.''
The Commodores and the Bookers are often an even match, though they usually provide uneven matchups. This year should be no different.
This rivalry always sparks community interest and usually draws a big crowd. Jackson says he knows of 20 relatives who have told him they'll be there tonight.
``And I was walking across the street the other day and this guy I hadn't seen in about six months hollers, `What ya'll gonna do against Booker T?' '' Jackson said. ``No hello. No nothing. Just the question.
``I told him, `Come to the game and find out.' '' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/Staff
by CNB