Cello Jackson finishes No. 2 in assists at EYBL Session 1, updates recruitment
By SAM LANCE
MESA, AZ — Class of 2026 three-star Cello Jackson is one of the most unique players in his class. At 6-foot-4, 205-pounds, Jackson runs the point for the Nightrydas Elite Nike EYBL AAU program and is one of the best set up men in high school basketball.
At EYBL Session 1, Jackson averaged six assists per game, good for second amongst all players at the 17u level. He added 11.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game, showcasing his ability to do it all. Jackson was also a key piece for Columbus (FL) in its run to the Chipotle Nationals title.
“Playing with the Boozer twins got me a lot of exposure and basketball knowledge I didn’t even know about,” Jackson told ZAGSBLOG. “Me playing that glue guy role, it got me to a lot of looks this year. So now at EYBL I’m showing my skills to other college coaches because that’s what they want to see. They see I can be the hardest player on the court. So now I just have to show my skillset and play hard.”
Jackson describes himself as a pass-first point guard who can score at will. He feels he’s best at attacking off the pick-and-roll and he’s looking to improve his outside shot. But what really stands out about Jackson is his effort.
“If I’m having a bad game, I’m going to play hard regardless,” Jackson said. “That’s what a coach is going to get out of me. 110% every time.”
Recruitment wise, Jackson has offers from 10+ programs including Cal, Florida State, Memphis and Seton Hall. All four of those schools stopped by Columbus to visit him during the high school season. Jackson hasn’t taken any visits yet, but he plans to see Memphis and Vanderbilt sometime this summer.
Here’s Jackson’s breakdown of the schools in contact most:
Cal: “They are a little structured basketball. For me with my playstyle, I think I would be more of like getting available paint touches. Getting a lot of assists per game and hitting my shooters.”
Florida State: “They just got a new coach. They just offered me. So I have to see how their playstyle is.”
Memphis: “Coach Penny Hardaway. That’s where I’m from. I’m originally from Memphis, Tennessee. I mean, they play my playstyle. Grit and grind basketball team. Defensive minded. Just scoring off transition, off defense. I love that program very much, and I would love to play back home.”
Seton Hall: “They came to see me like my third week at Columbus. They just saw me at practice, my intensity. Going at Cayden Boozer everyday because I knew that would get me better. They offered me then and then they came to see me in New York at the Jordan Brand Classic.”
Vanderbilt: “They do a lot of pressing defense. It’s like a more free offense, and I like that. So I feel like me being able to play feel, transition up and down, half court sets, playing in the pick-and-rolls. I feel like that’d be great there. And it’s close to home.”
One aspect these programs all have in common resonates with Jackson.
“All of these schools are defensive minded,” Jackson said. “That’s what I love about them. It’ll be a hard decision when it comes down to it because they are all defensive minded. I love defensive teams. So it’s just building a relationship with me, and we’ll see how it goes from there.”
Jackson is ranked as a three-star prospect by 247Sports. His uncle, Marlon Dawson, is who got him into basketball. He played at USF and Jackson has looked up to him all of his life.
A fun fact about Jackson is that he can play the cello, and ironically, that’s his nickname. He’s practiced the instrument since elementary school.
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