UM men’s hoop team lands top recruit

The decision by Jermaine Jackson to attend the University of Maine should signal a victory tour for the men’s basketball team, according to his former coach.

The University of Maine men’s basketball recruiting class has grown to two players now that Jackson, a forward from Indian River Junior College and Pahokee, Fla., has committed to play for coach John Giannini.

Actually, the total of incoming players is four when including Notre Dame transfer and former South Portland High School star Chris Markwood and University of Nevada-Las Vegas transfer guard Ernest Turner in the mix.

Giannini can’t comment on any incoming junior college players until they’re actually enrolled at UMaine, but Florida Junior College Southern Conference coaches aren’t under the same restriction.

“The University of Maine got a steal,” said Indian River coach Mike Leatherwood. “He’s (Jackson) really a high Division I player. He’s a scoring machine. I expect him to go up there and be Maine’s best player.”

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Jackson averaged 18 points per game in his first season at Indian River while playing alongside Tim Pickett, who led Florida State University in points, rebounds, and steals last season. Although Pickett averaged 21 per game two years ago, Leatherwood says Jackson’s shooting percentage was better. The duo led Indian River to the state final.

“He’s more than just an up-and-down, quote, ‘juco’ kid who’s good in transition,” said Palm Beach Junior College coach Steve Bernath, who coached against Jackson last year. “I think he’ll benefit from being in Maine’s system and he has a really good upside. It’s harder and harder today to find guys who are physically ready to step in at that level, but he is.”

Bernath has been working with Jackson the last few months as he worked out at Palm Beach’s athletic facilities.

Both coaches pegged Jackson as a small forward, but his athleticism and quickness may allow him to play as many as three different positions.

“I think he’s very, very hungry to be a great player. He’s a hard worker who will defend like crazy,” Bernath said. “Jermaine can slash and get to the basket and still be dynamic from the 3-point line and in.”

Bernath said Jackson has developed a “pretty good perimeter jump shot” and matured a lot in terms of court savvy and composure the last year.

Jackson sat out the 2002-03 season to concentrate on his academic course load and secure the associate’s degree that allows junior college players to attend Division I schools.

Jackson joins Chris Bruff, a 6-3 guard from West Hartford who was the Hartford Courant Connecticut player of the year, in Maine’s recruiting class.

The 6-2, 195-pound Turner, who hails from Magnolia, N.J., has made his choice of Maine official after being granted a release by UNLV last week.