Former SGTC Lady Jet Ricka Jackson highlighted by Texas Tech
Former South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets basketball star Ricka “Maka” Jackson is a rising senior at Texas Tech in Lubbock, TX, and she was spotlighted recently by the Texas Tech Lady Raiders. Jackson played for the Lady Jets from 2017 – 2019.
Jackson helped lead the Lady Jets to their first unbeaten regular season conference record under head coach James Frey with an 18 – 0 performance to capture the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) regular season title. The Lady Jets earned the right to advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for the fifth time in seven years and finished the season ranked 20th in the NJCAA during her sophomore season. She was ranked as the 15th best JUCO player in the country.
The 5’ 10” forward from Ewa Beach, HI, was the MVP of the NJCAA Region XVII All-Tournament Team and second team GCAA All-Conference Player, who signed with Texas Tech University in the Big 12 NCAA Division 1 conference after her sophomore season.
As a junior, Jackson helped Texas Tech to an 18 – 11 record and a 7 – 11 conference record. She started three games as a junior for Texas Tech and played in 24. She averaged 3.3 points per game, 1.5 rebounds, and had 25 assists, 21 steals and two blocked shots. She finished the season shooting an efficient 50.9 percent from the floor and shot 21 of 29 from the free throw line for a 72.4 percent average.
Jackson was asked about why she chose Texas Tech. “I decided to come to Texas Tech because of the family atmosphere and family is a big thing to me. Also because of the movement and how they wanted me to help turn this program around. I wanted to be a part of that,” said Jackson.
Jackson had a chance to visit Texas Tech and see their facilities when she helped lead the Lady Jets to the NJCAA National Tournament in Lubbock, Texas. She is looking forward to her senior season on the floor for the Lady Raider and hopes to make her last year there count.
“I’m looking forward to winning,” said Jackson, who also revealed that if she could pick one person to meet, it would be Michael Jordan. Her pre-game music favorite is NBA YoungBoy and Toosi. Her favorite meal is Korean chicken and rise and she favors dogs over cats.
Texas Tech is like many athletic teams right now waiting to see how the 2020 – 2021 season will unfold with the COVID-19 pandemic.