By Kyle Roberts
Set in the teachers’ lounge at Ruston High, senior Lady Bearcat Zaccheya Jackson signed Tuesday to go play collegiately with the Southern Arkansas University Tech Rockets with her family, teammates and coaches in attendance.
“They feel like family to me,” Jackson said. “The atmosphere and the coaches were great. The players were very welcoming to me.”
Former Ruston High head coach Meredith Graf lauded Jackson’s career as a Lady Bearcat, highlighting her commitment to coming back after a season-ending knee injury in December of 2022.
“The one thing I never had to worry about with “Z” was that she was going to work really hard,” Graf said. “From the time she was a freshman all the way to her senior year, she’s always been a hard worker. She gave her all everyday — she was an excellent teammate. She’s got a huge heart and cares about people.”
“She went through a major injury. It’s obviously a physical challenge to battle, but it’s really the mental and emotional side that is really difficult. I saw how she responded to that, and it was nothing short of what I thought it would be. She gave 110 percent in physical therapy.
And given the recovery Jackson faced after an injury over a year ago, Tuesday’s signing is that much sweeter for the soon-to-be high school graduate, who also said she is proud to represent Ruston High at the next level.
“It’s been a lot of hard work,” Jackson said. “Just being able to have this opportunity even after the injury — it just makes me very proud. I have a lot of people behind me supporting me and supporting the program.”
Jackson finished the season averaging 11.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
