What sophomore slump? TRC veteran takes the lead

It was pretty simple, really.

Lamont Jackson, being the only returning sophomore for the Three Rivers men’s basketball team saw the math: He had to step up and be a leader.

Granted, Jackson was aided by an influx of sophomore transfers which was a needed boost for the Raiders, but Jackson hasn’t hidden from the role of being a guy the squad could count on.

Jackson, a Blytheville, Arkansas native, was a backup to former Raiders Kinyon Hodges (now at East Illinois) and Lamar Wilkerson (Sam Houston State) and bided his time as the only freshman on the roster in 2021-22.

“Lamont has been really good this year,” Three Rivers head coach Brian Bess said. “He’s been helping with a lot of the younger guys and the guys coming in. I think he’s shot it really well this year and is about to break out. “His basketball IQ is one of the best things he has. He has been one of our best defenders this year and he is one of our best three-point shooters.”

Jackson is second in scoring (12.3) for the Raiders and in 3-point shooting (41.5 percent) and 4.7 rebounds-per-game.

Jackson is the team’s O.R. – original Raider – from this roster and he has enjoyed the role.

“It’s been hard at times and challenging, but I have been teaching the younger guys the ropes and seeing them come along the way,” Jackson said. “Most importantly, I had to get better with my leadership and help those young guys. It was about being vocal and leading by example. Most just say it, but you got to do it.

“You basically have to go hard in practice to make them go hard in practice. You can tell him to do it, you have to do it yourself.”

Jackson admits the newer influx of older players didn’t hurt.

“The transfers helped a lot and bring their experience to the table, but it helped me see myself,” Jackson said. “It comes from another standpoint and we had to all fight our own fights in our situations.”

Jackson said he has enjoyed seeing his growth as a shooter and he believes that putting “scoring aside” and becoming more of a facilitator is of the utmost importance at this point of the season for the 6-9 Raiders.

“I want to improve on scoring at all three levels,” Jackson said. “I go to the right and shoot the three pretty well, but I want to work on my midrange and floaters. My passing can also improve.”

Jackson wants to lead his team to a region title and aim for a chance to continue playing after his time in Poplar Bluff runs out.

“The record doesn’t matter, we need to put the past behind us and go forward and fight to the end,” Jackson said of his Region XVI title hopes. “Slowly it’s starting to come in and hopefully I will be at a (NCAA) Division I program.”