Pilots After PG Lorne Jackson

Check it out:

There was quite the gathering of college coaches during the Simi Valley at Wilson playoff game last week: LBSU head coach Dan Monson and assistants Rod Palmer and Eric Brown; Cal State Northridge head guy Bobby Braswell; Portland head coach Eric Reveno; and University of San Diego assistant Bill Carr. Each is recruiting Simi Valley guard Lorne Jackson.

http://thejacksontwins.blogspot.com/ (you have to scroll down a bit)

That is taken from an article from the Long Beach Press Telegram, but it's not available on their site any more. The blog is run by (I think) someone related to Lorne Jackson, a senior PG from Simi Valley in California.

According to this older article about him, Jackson sounds exactly like the type of guy that Reveno has been going after in terms of academics:

http://www.simivalleyacorn.com/news/2007/0622/Sports/043.html

He's ranked #149 nationally according to ESPN. Here's what they have to say about him:

Jackson was originally going to be listed as one of my surprise selections, but his play was far too impressive for that category. Like D.J. Gay (current freshman at San Diego State) displayed during the 2006-07 season, no player's stock is elevating quicker in the West than Jackson. Jackson is the quintessential point guard for the next level. Although he isn't the quickest or the fastest, his savvy and craftiness with the ball is beyond his years. He makes great decisions at both ends and is one of the more impressive competitors and leaders that I've seen during the 2007-08 season. His passing ability is excellent and most importantly he rarely turns the ball over. In addition, he is one of the rare prospects in high school that takes what the defense gives him. Although he is a pass-first point guard, he can score effectively (39-point outburst against Dominguez) either off the bounce or the 3-point jump shot. Jackson is unsigned and it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up at a high-major program for the 2008-09 season.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=56870&univLogin02=stateChanged

Scout calls him one of the top players in the west still unsigned, and Rivals goes even one step further, listing him among (along with Tinsley and McCoy) the best PG's available nationally:

Simi Valley (Calif.) point guard Lorne Jackson is having a strong senior season, and he is one of the better unsigned point guards in the Golden State. He has offers from American, San Diego, Long Beach State, Montana State and UC Riverside.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/recruiting/basketball/national/2008-03-06-basketball_N.htm

That blog link I listed earlier also has tons of references to him.

Sounds like a good one to me... and he would fill our needs perfectly--an athletic PG!

Good luck to Reveno and the staff!

***Edited to add that Lorne has a twin brother, Langston, who is a running back being recruited by Portland State.

Uh oh... now for the bad news. We've got LOTS of competition, including San Diego, which has a major leg up after their NCAA win, and some BCS teams:

The basketball season might have ended for Lorne Jackson about a month ago, but that doesn't necessarily mean things have quieted down on the hoops front. In fact, the senior point guard from Simi Valley has been as busy as ever, with the recruiting process, that is.

Jackson visited San Diego over the weekend and plans on returning for an official visit in two weeks. Trips to Butler and George Mason, perhaps Penn St., appear to be in the works as well. Oklahoma is another program that's been expressing some interest recently.

"Life has been crazy,'' Jackson said. "I thought I'd get some attention a lot earlier than I did. But I guess everything happens for a reason. Right now, I'm taking my time in making this decision. I want to find the right fit. We're talking about the next four years of my life.''

San Diego has offered him a scholarship. So has American, Cal St. Northridge, Montana St. and UC Riverside. Can't imagine Jackson committing anytime soon, though. But when he does, I've got a funny feeling either Simi Valley coach Christian Aurand or his assistant Ryan Moore will let me know right away, considering they both do a good job of keeping in touch. Stay tuned.

-- Sean Ceglinsky

Again, taken from the blog from an article in Varsity Times Insider

http://thejacksontwins.blogspot.com/