‘A big time player' — Jackson named second-team all-American for Lady Raiders

Believe it or not, Three Rivers College sophomore guard Da’Kariya “Lia” Jackson said she was shocked when she found out earlier this week she had been named a second-team NJCAA all-American for her efforts on the court this season.

Not that she wasn’t happy to be honored.

“It was a really good feeling,” Jackson said. “I feel like I deserved it and I worked hard for it.”

Jackson was the Lady Raiders most valuable player this season as they finished 29-5 and made it to the quarterfinals of the NJCAA tournament. She led the team with 12.6 points, 3.8 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game while sharing the team lead in rebounding at 5.1 boards per contest. She also had two steals per game, good for second on the team.

“She was everything,” Three Rivers coach Alex Wiggs said. “As far as the energy, she brought it every single day. She led by example on the court. She put in the extra work. Even on her bad days or bad games ... she still brought the energy to the team. She still was their biggest cheerleader. And I think that says a lot about her, her unselfishness and desire for this team to be successful, is just the way that she lost herself in everybody else’s success and never made it about her and her success.

“I think that that’s what makes her a great teammate, a great human. What makes this honor so deserving is because it may have been a goal for her, but it was never talked about. It was never a thing where she felt like she needed to be the leading scorer. Her most important thing was that we won.”

Jackson’s defining game this season was the Region 16 championship game on March 15 at the Libla Family Sports Complex, when she scored a game-high 34 points to lead the Lady Raiders to their fourth national tournament appearance in a row.

“There wasn’t a better time to go out and have 34 than the region championship game,” Wiggs said. “I thought that game just felt like all her hard work and all her time spent in the gym, paid off — and you could see it on her face by her reactions.”

Jackson had a strong freshman season which ended prematurely because of injury. As one of two returnees from that squad — and one of three sophomores — she was counted on to step up and help the team succeed.

“We challenged her last offseason to be the leader of this team,” Three Rivers assistant coach Caleb Livingston said. “We knew we had 14 newcomers coming in and to say that she answered that call is maybe an understatement. She went above and beyond and she brought it every day. ... She did an unbelievable job of leading this team.”

Jackson echoed those sentiments.

“I came back as a sophomore and I knew how to fill some leadership shoes and put the team on my back,” Jackson said. “I just felt like they just really showed up at any given moment.”

Jackson has more than 20 offers to play Division I women’s college basketball next season and still is deciding where she will continue her career.

But for now, she is thankful for her two seasons at Three Rivers.

“I just thank everyone who supports me,” Jackson said. “I love you all. I came here and y’all just showed me endless love and I just really appreciate y’all for that. And I’m gonna forever love y’all. Thank you all so much.”

She also believes the best is yet to come for the Lady Raiders on the hardwood.

“I will forever be a Raider and I’m just so proud of this team,” Jackson said. “We are winning it next year.”