Florida State Men's Basketball: Chandler Jackson's Growth Has Been Beneficial for Seminoles

Having a great supporting cast has always been crucial to a team's success. Role players who give their best effort will always shine on the team. That’s what Chandler Jackson has done for the Florida State Seminoles this season. The sophomore guard has continued to elevate his play which has resulted in big performances. 

The sophomore from Memphis, Tennessee was eager to kick off his second season as a Seminole. As a freshman, Jackson was a young pup who was beloved in his locker room. Every time he stepped out on the floor, he made a huge impact both defensively and with the ability to hit shots on occasion. 

Jackson has made the same impact throughout this season. He’s been a big punch off the bench with the likes of Primo Spears, Josh Nickelberry, Taylor Bol Bowen, and others. The aspect of Jackson’s game that continues to stand out is confidence. Every time he steps on the floor, he has the ultimate goal to make an impact in the game. 

Over the last few weeks, Jackson has arguably played his best basketball for the Florida State Seminoles. Defensively, he’s using his size and physicality to cause disruption. Offensively, he’s becoming a jack of all trades. Playing in a lineup next to Jamir Watkins, Baba Miller, Darin Green Jr, and others, Jackson can play without the basketball. With that being said, he continues to thrive as a spot-up shooter as he anticipates the pass and shoots confidently. 

As Jackson has continued to play well without the ball, he’s also shown signs of being a potential new shot-creator. He’s great at scoring off dribble penetration. His size and agility gives defenders issues when he attacks the rim. Jackson has also shown how to get to his spots in the mid-range and elevate over defenders. The beauty of Jackson’s offensive growth is taking matters into his own hands. Because of this, he has delivered great scoring performances as of late. 

The ACC is a tough conference! It’s a battle every matchup and the seedlings fluctuate frequently. The Seminoles got off to a great start in conference play as they won five of their first 6 games. However, the tough matchups were approaching between Duke, North Carolina, and others. With the ACC schedule strengthening, the Seminoles were going to need production from their supporting cast. 

When in doubt, Chandler Jackson stepped up to the plate. It all began with a 10-point performance against the North Carolina Tar Heels where he became more assertive offensively. The momentum continued as he was able to display three double-digit scoring performances in a five-game span. The performance that sticks out is his career-high 19 points in a win over Boston College on February 20. As sharpshooter Darin Green Jr was sidelined, Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton looked to his sophomore wing to start in his place. 

When forward Cam’Ron Fletcher went down with a season-ending injury, there needed to be someone who could step in his place. Fletcher is a dynamic forward who provides versatility on both ends of the floor. The opportunity opened itself for Chandler Jackson. He may not be as lengthy as Fletcher but provides the same amount of strength and hustle that the team needs in the second unit. 

As the ACC Tournament is underway, Chandler Jackson’s impact will be just as important as it’s been in the regular season. The star players will always shine but the role players can make a big difference. As Florida State looks to shock the conference, Jackson will be one of the main components in their success.