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A stepback jumper is just one of the ways senior guard Kaleb Jackson can score points for Carmel.
But taking a step back off the court recently, primarily through film sessions with coach Dmitry Pirshin, set Jackson on a path to elevate both his game and the Corsairs.
“It was a way to bounce ideas off each other and get on the same page,” Jackson said. “It was beneficial for our relationship and for the team because we identified areas where we could improve.”
It’s no coincidence that the sessions followed a frustrating stretch that included tough losses to Libertyville and Notre Dame. Pirshin wanted to show Jackson different ways he could contribute as the Corsairs (5-9, 0-5) navigated their rugged East Suburban Catholic Conference schedule.
“Ever since Evanston (a win on Dec. 12), I feel like he flipped a switch to play really well on defense,” Pirshin said. “He’s been shooting really well, and playmaking is also one of his strong suits. But playing ‘D’ and facilitating makes him more of a complete player.”
That’s something the 6-foot-1 Jackson prides himself on being, and sharpening his skill set has become even more important since senior forward Jacob Chajet suffered a broken hand.
“It changes roles for everybody, but for me specifically, I know I’ll have to guard their best players from now on,” Jackson said. “But I always want to compete against the best players. It energizes me to stay active on every possession.”
Activity often means points for Jackson on the other end, and that’s something the Corsairs are happy to get. He entered 2024 averaging 17.3 points in addition to 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals. He was named to the all-tournament at Centralia, where he put up 22.7 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals.
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In perhaps his best game of the season, Jackson had 26 points and 10 assists as Carmel beat Belleville West 68-53 at Centralia on Dec. 28.
“I feel like I controlled the game really well that night,” he said. “One of the reasons I played so well was that my defense sparked my offense. I was really aggressive on the ball, and that set the tone for us as a team.”
Jackson is the consummate team player. He said making plays for others is what he enjoys most about basketball. But there’s the reality, too, that he plans to play in college.
“It’s balancing the line between being aggressive and selfish, always keeping in mind making the right basketball play,” he said.
Lake County News-Sun
Therein lies one of the key takeaways from the film sessions with Pirshin.
“You want coaches that see your film to like you, and chances are you’ll be asked to do other things besides score when you get to college,” Pirshin said.
Jackson has made the most of the work he does outside of Carmel too. He specifically mentioned weightlifting and shooting workouts with his father, Kenya, a former Division III standout.
“We make sure we’re intentional in everything we do,” Kenya Jackson said. “We’re not just in the gym shooting the ball. We also talk about the why when thinking about things situationally. Preparation breeds confidence.”
Kaleb Jackson’s college options remain open. Western Illinois and Bowling Green are among the programs that have reached out. Another potential route is following in the footsteps of his older brother, Asher, a 2022 Carmel graduate who is a preferred walk-on at Boston College.
“It’s all about what he can do to help the team,” Kaleb Jackson said of Asher. “Go hard in practice and make the top guys look better. He enjoys the competition in practice, and once he gets his number called, he’ll be ready.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.