David Jackson (6-7) and Andrew Jones (6-8) bring size, athleticism to Lions
State College, Pa., Nov. 9, 2005 – Head Coach Ed DeChellis continued to add size and athleticism to the Penn State basketball team Wednesday as he announced the signing of 6-7 forward David Jackson (Kennedy Catholic HS/Farrell, Pa.) and 6-8 forward Andrew Jones, III (Abington Friends HS/Philadelphia, Pa.) on the first day of the early signing period. The two signees fill Penn State’s available scholarships for the 2005-06 recruiting period.
“We have added two outstanding young men who possess great athletic ability,” DeChellis said. “They will both bring a great deal to our program.”
Jackson (6-7, 190) is projected as a collegiate forward but played all five positions on a Kennedy Catholic team that posted a 24-7 record and reached the PIAA Class A title game last season. Jackson scored 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 65-61 loss to Bishop O’Reilly.
“David is an outstanding prospect with great athletic ability that will help him to play several positions for us,” DeChellis said. “He comes from a very successful high school program with great tradition and is a great addition to our basketball family.”
Jackson, who is coached by former Penn State assistant coach Tim Loomis (1987-89), averaged 17.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game as a junior and was a first team All-State selection. A three-year starter and honor roll student on a team that has posted a 77-14 mark the last three seasons, he earned third team All-State honors and first team All-MCAC as a sophomore.
Young for his class, he turned 17 in August, Jackson is a slasher who shoots well off the drive and can get to the rim. He is a strong rebounder and will serve as a co-captain this season for a team that returns all but two players and looks to challenge for the Class A title again. His mother, Andrea, is an assistant volleyball coach at Youngstown State and was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team.
“I felt like it was family there,” Jackson said of his decision to come to Penn State, “Every time I visited there, I didn’t want to go home. It also fit in with the top schools academically, which is what I was looking for.”
Jones (6-8, 190) is projected as a collegiate small forward or power forward. In just his third season of organized basketball, he averaged 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks for an Abington Friends School team that posted a 19-10 record and lost by a point in the championship game of the Friends School League in Philadelphia. Jones was a first team All-League selection and a second team All-Montgomery County pick.
“Andrew possesses great athletic ability and his explosiveness around the basket is outstanding,” DeChellis said. “He affects the game in many ways.”
“He runs the floor very well and is a very good shot blocker, “said Abington Friends coach Steve Chadwin. “He’s just learning how to play. This is his third year really of competitive basketball. His best basketball is in the future. He is extremely talented as far as having the potential to be a real solid player. He’s a good defender, very team oriented and has strong leadership qualities.”
Jones will serve as a captain this year for an Abington Friends team that also features another top collegiate prospect in 6-9 center Jason Love.
David Jackson (Kennedy Catholic/Farrell, Pa.)
Forward, 6-7, 190
Honors and Awards:
- First Team Class A, All-State (2005)
- Third Team Class A, All-State (2004)
- First Team All-MCAC (2004)
- Honor Roll Student
Prep:
- Team captain as a senior
- As a junior 17.6 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.6 apg
- Three-year starter
- Led team to PIAA Class A title game in 2005
- 26 points, 7 rebounds in that game
- Coach: Tim Loomis – former Penn State assistant coach under Bruce Parkhill (1987-89)
Andrew Jones, III (Abington Friends/Philadelphia, Pa.)
Forward, 6-8, 190
Honors and Awards:
- First Team All-League (Friends School League) (2005)
- Second Team All-Montgomery Country
Prep:
- Team captain as a senior
- As a junior 12 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 bpg
- Team went 19-10 and reached league championship game
- Has played three years of organized basketball
- Coach: Steve Chadwin