“Bleeding cardinal and gold.”
When Bill Fennelly is asked to describe Arianna Jackson, that phrase comes up every time. It’s not hard to see why. Both of her parents graduated from Iowa State, and her dad Hez and brother Kendell played football for the university.
Eagle eyed readers may remember the name Kendell Jackson as the one who recovered the fumble against Iowa on the one yard line, which the Cyclones would then convert “The Drive” to snap an eight year drought.
Arianna Jackson, often referred
to as AJ, has become the leading figure for a roster that includes ten new players. This extends on and off the court, and Fennelly will be quick to remind the media. “
She’s on every committee that the athletic department comes up with. She’s never, ever gotten the attention she deserves. People in this building know how important AJ is.”
High praise for the fourth year guard who has started nearly every game of her collegiate career. With the amount of uncertainty that surrounds the roster, AJ is likely the piece that we have the clearest picture of.
What does AJ bring?
Outside of the aforementioned leadership qualities, AJ was one of the best sharp shooters in the country this past season. She ranked in the top ten nationally in 3 point field goal percentage at nearly 44%. Bill Fennelly described the roster during the offseason as lots of shooters, but not a lot of makers, so AJ may be relied on more heavily than previous teams. Nearly 85% of AJ’s shot attempts are from beyond the arc, so expect her to remain on the outside as other guards have shown a willingness to drive.
Defensively, AJ gets the top assignment every game. To show the amount of trust Bill has had in the 5-foot-9 guard, AJ was responsible as a freshman for guarding Caitlin Clark, who had already become one of the biggest stars that women’s basketball has ever seen.
Regardless of the opponent, AJ will be hounding the top guard and making their life a nightmare, especially for those who want to drive towards the basket.
How will AJ be used?
This is honestly the only write-up for the women’s team where it is obvious how the subject will be used. Expect plenty of three point attempts, ferocious defense, and poise both on and off the court. With a career high of 18 points against UCF last season, I would still expect the senior to play as a secondary option for the offense as we have now seen the willingness for the cyclones to get the ball inside to Tjaša Turnšek or to drive it themselves. Still, there will be a couple games this season where Mya Babbitt and Arianna Jackson are both on fire from deep, and that opportunity may be the difference when facing teams that are larger in size.
AJ is already getting the largest crowd roar out of any of the starters, with the Iowa State faithful demonstrating their appreciation for the lifelong Cyclone. With the new NCAA eligibility rules, the guard from Des Moines Roosevelt has the opportunity to return for a fifth season.
Regardless of what the future holds, everyone knows that Arianna Jackson will be one of the most revered Cyclones in program history, both on and off the court.
