Where did Rickea Jackson go to College?

Rickea Jackson has emerged as one of the most impressive women’s basketball players of the modern WNBA. Jackson was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks as the 4th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She brought a wealth of talent and a proven track record of winning to the WNBA.

A five-star recruit from Detroit Edison Public School Academy in Detroit, Michigan, Jackson made a name for herself as a reliable scorer, outstanding ball-handler, and versatile shot-creator. Her mid-range and three-point shooting abilities make her a constant threat on the court, while her physicality allows her to dominate in the post against any defender. Jackson's two-way skill set made her a two-time First-team All-SEC selection in 2023 and 2024.

Her influence extends beyond the collegiate level, as she gained international recognition playing for the U.S. in the 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Mongolia, where she led her team to a gold medal and earned a spot on the all-tournament team.

Now with the LA Sparks, Jackson's combination of talent, versatility, and international experience positions her as a rising star in the WNBA.

Rickea Jackson College Career

Rickea Johnson attended two universities throughout her college career. First Rickea Johnson college was Mississippi State University where she played women’s basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldog from 2019 to 2022.

Then in 2022, Rickea Johnson College became the University of Tennessee, where she played for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team. Rickea Johnson college degree at the University of Tennessee was in communication studies. This is a review of her collegiate basketball career so far -

Mississippi State University (2019-2022)

Rickea Jackson started her collegiate basketball career with the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the 2019/20 season. She was notable for her season-high 34 points as a freshman. After the season, she became a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team and a member of the Second Team All-SEC in 2022. She also won the Gillom Trophy as the top player in her college.

During her sophomore 2020/21 season, Jackson continued her consistent performance for her team. During half of her junior season in 2021/22, she transferred to the University of Tennessee.

University of Tennessee (2022 - 2024)

Rickea Jackson started playing for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers after her transfer from the Mississippi State Bulldogs. She continued the remainder of her junior 2021/22 season with the team. During her first senior season in 2022/23, she scored a season-high 34 points.

After the season, she was honored as a First Team All-SEC in 2023. She was supposed to get drafted during the 2023 WNBA draft but she chose to return to college for an extra year. In the 2023/24 season, Jackson averaged 20.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, earning first-team All-SEC honors for the second consecutive year.

Rickea Jackson's Position at College

Rickea Jackson played the role of the small forward for both the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers.

She played on all sides of her court. Her offensive responsibilities included making screens and scoring field goals from both close and long shots. Jackson’s defensive roles include getting rebounds for the team, covering the wings for the team, and guarding the opposing players.

How much did Rickea Jackson average at College?

In a career spanning three seasons and 67 games with the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Rickea Jackson averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. She shot 44.4% from the field, including 29.6% from deep.

Throughout two seasons and 60 games with the Tennessee Lady Volunteers so far, Jackson averaged 19.7 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. She also shot 54.8% from the field, including 32.8% from deep.

Rickea Jackson Teammates at Mississippi State University and University of Tennessee

Rickea Jackson college teammates at Mississippi State Bulldogs were players like Anastasia Hayes, Aislynn Hayes, Jerkaila Jordan, Mia Moore, and Denah Carter among others.

Rickea Jackson college teammates at Tennessee Lady Volunteers were Jewel Spear, Destinee Wells, Avery Strickland, Tess Darby, and Jasmine Powell among others.

Where did Rickea Jackson go to School?

Rickea Jackson attended the Detroit Edison Public School Academy in Michigan. She played varsity girl’s basketball for Edison Academy Pioneers, the school team. Her excellent performance and consistency throughout her freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons led her team to win three straight Class C State titles.

As a senior, Jackson’s consistency helped her earn Michigan Miss Basketball honors. She also played in the MacDonald’s All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic in 2019. She became Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year twice throughout her high school years. At the end of her high school career, she was regarded as the 5th best player in her class. Moreover, she was also an all-time leading scorer, earning 1,771 points. She was regarded as a five-star recruit and continued to Mississippi State University.