High Majors Calling on Philly Scorer

It’s hard to be big time scoring guard and go virtually unnoticed on the summer circuit, especially in the class of 2005. But somehow, guard Stefan Jackson did just that. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound shooting guard from Philadelphia (Pa.) Lutheran had a big junior season and he feels like he did just as good on the summer circuit. Perhaps his showing at the recent Five-Star camp helped solidify that.

Jackson averaged 27 points per game last high school season and playing with a number of AAU teams over the summer and at the Pangos and adidas camps, Jackson proved he could score with the big boys. Just ask him.

“The summer was real good. I killed Vegas and I destroyed Cali,” Jackson said.

He ate up the Five-Star camp a couple of weeks ago, too. Jackson scored 44 points, on 20 or 27 shooting, in the all-star game. That seems to be his niche.

“It’s easy for me to score,” Jackson said. “That’s what I practice. I work on my one on one moves. I’m always practicing. I feel like no one can stop me.”

Syracuse, Providence, Seton Hall, Rutgers and Virginia have all inquired since the Five-Star camp. Arizona has even made a ring. St. Joseph’s, LaSalle, Georgia and “a lot of A-10 schools” have shown interest during the summer. According to the senior, LaSalle, Purdue, Rhode Island and UTEP have all tendered a scholarship. Jackson says there isn’t a clear leader yet either.

“I’m still open,” Jackson said. “There are no favorites. I’m open to everybody.”

Rutgers commitment J.R. Inman is doing his best to recruit Jackson to the Big East school. The two played together at the Five-Star event.

“He told them about me and wants me to go to Rutgers with him,” Jackson said. “He said they need some guards to go with him to the National Championship game. He’s a good guy.”

UMass, LaSalle, Rhode Island and UTEP are traveling to Philadelphia for in-home visits in the next couple of weeks and official and unofficial visits are in the works.

“I’m ready to see some schools and hear what they have to say,” Jackson said.

He said that he'd like to visit Purdue, Ole Miss, UTEP and Rhode Island while leaving his fifth official visit open.