Jackson was one of the very best players in the area as a little kid growing and playing on the I-85 corridor past Gwinnett County. Kenyanna was the quickest player on the court 99% of the time and her anticipation skills on the defensive end led to Commerce blowing almost everyone they played out in elementary and especially middle school (I saw her score 20 plus points in games countless times). It was no surprise to see her having a big impact on a very good team throughout the season last year. Jackson finished averaging 10 points, almost 4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and over FOUR steals per game. That’s right, Kenyanna broke the school record for steals in a season, as just a freshman, with 121. Quick math says she is on pace to record almost 500 in her career. Jackson shot 34% for the season and was right at 30% from three-point range. Those are not bad numbers, but I know her percentages will continue to improve over the next four years.

Kenyanna is a player I have seen over the course of the last three seasons competing against my daughter in middle school in neighboring Commerce. She is an elite athlete who gets from one spot on the court to another as quick as anyone in the state, with or without the basketball. She does a very good job using her quickness to get buckets in transition as well as in quick bursts to get around defenders in the half court. Jackson’s strength is getting to the basket, but she continues to improve her perimeter shooting. She was able to rely on sheer athleticism to dominate players in middle school, but you can see the skill development and work in other areas of her game. If you talk to other coaches in her region this past year, they will tell you she was one of the hardest players they had to gameplay for.

Kenyanna has been a pest on defense in northeast Georgia for years pressuring the ball handler and disrupting the opposing team’s offense. Combining that defense with her quickness Jackson was able to get out on the break and score a lot of uncontested layups the last few years in middle school. It was clear she has been working hard on her three point shot as she made multiple ones in the game and looked confident doing it. She is a game changing athlete when she is on the floor, if Kenyanna can consistently knock down shots from deep, then her stock will go sky high.

Jackson is a kid I have seen a bunch over the last few seasons. She is an elite athlete who is as quick as a cat and has the same leaping ability. She is a nightmare for opposing guards to deal with on defense where she suffocates ball handlers and intercepts passes regularly leading to easy points for her team. She is usually the fastest player on the court, even with the ball, and Jackson usually gets a couple uncontested lay ups by herself after beating everyone else down the floor. She can break a game wide open for her team and will be crucial to Commerce’s postseason success.