Robert Carry meets Brittany Jackson, an American basketball player who is leaving modelling and a TV career aside to concentrate on being the best she can be on the court
Brittany Jackson is one of the most Googled sportswomen in the US – and while the pro basketballer can certainly play a bit, there are other factors at work.
“When I first graduated from University of Tennessee, I went on a radio talk show,” explains the six-foot tall blonde-haired and blue-eyed 24-year-old. “Through that I met the editor of FHM, who is a big fan of women’s basketball. He knew who I was and he asked me to do a spread, so that’s basically how I got into it.”
Jackson proved popular with the lad mag’s 1.1 million readers, her own website was launched and a media career beckoned. She moved to California to build on it but after three months of modelling, TV work and red carpet appearances, she decided to re-assess her priorities.
“I enjoyed the three months in California but I realised I really missed basketball and that I wanted to keep playing, so I went back to it,” she says. “All that other stuff can wait – you can’t play forever.”
Her playing career kicked off when she signed for the team she had followed through her childhood, the University of Tennessee’s Lady Vols: “I’m from Tennessee and I had always been a huge Lady Vols fan. I grew up watching Pat Summitt [Lady Vols coach] so there was no question of me wanting to play anywhere else.”
Working with the tough-talking coach proved a memorable experience for Jackson. “Pat’s awesome!” exclaims the American. “Her record speaks for itself. Playing under a great coach like that is something special. She succeeds. It was a great experience.”
Jackson’s stint in UT meant she also got to study for a degree in Broadcast Communications, something she hopes to put to use after her playing days: “I’ve done a little work in that area since I graduated, but I’ve been mostly playing. I do definitely want to continue in broadcasting when I have more time.”
However, her time in the university will be remembered most for her stunning on-court performances. While playing for the Lady Vols, Jackson appeared in four consecutive NCAA Final Fours and made two appearances in national championship finals. Tennessee also won three SEC championships during her tenure, and Jackson was named on the SEC All Tournament team in 2005. She went on to compete professionally in the now defunct National Women’s Basketball League (NWBL) during the 2006 season, when she was ranked second in the league for 3-pointers made per game and total 3-pointers made.
The team’s success meant that offers to play in various tournaments were a regular occurrence. Jackson recalls: “We got to travel to Italy and Greece, we went all over the world… Basketball has taken me to places that otherwise I never would have had the chance to see.”
Jackson trained with a number of Stateside teams before eventually opting for a radical change in direction. “I’m going to play in Turkey next month,” she says of her planned move to Burhaniye Belediye Sports Club in the Turkish first division.
“I’m young. I’m only 24, so I want to keep playing as long as I can. I’m ready now to go overseas to continue and to develop my career.”
Turkey might sound like an unusual choice of destination but the player is convinced it’s the right one for her. She adds: “I haven’t been to Turkey yet but I’ve talked to a lot of people who have. I’ve heard great things about it so I’m very excited.”
She hopes the move will put her in the shop window and that a move elsewhere in the world or, even back to the US, will soon follow.
“I would definitely like to go back to the US to play in the WBA eventually,” she says. “But I could be picked up by a club somewhere else in the world and I do want to continue to play overseas.”
Jackson arrived in Ireland in time for the final weekend of the Basketball Ireland Summer Jam event, and is set to take part in a basketball camp in Trim, Co Meath (running till Friday 24 August) alongside fellow US-born player and Irish resident Jolie McKeirnan. She is expecting the camp to be the highlight of her trip.
“Of all the off the court activities I’m asked to participate in as a professional athlete, working with kids at basketball camps is by far my favourite thing,” she says. “I’m so grateful that I was given the opportunity to go to camp when I was younger so that I could develop my game, and I think it’s really important for us professional players to pave the way for the younger generations, just as others did for us.”
Jackson, who has also been involved in a number of community projects in the US, continues: “Basketball has opened so many doors for me and I hope in some small way I can show even just one kid that this can happen for them as well.
“I’ve heard lots of great things about basketball in Ireland and I’m really looking forward to being a part of it,” adds the big-hearted player. “More than anything, I just really hope to see the kids enjoying themselves and loving the game of basketball. Jolie and I really want to make this a fun week for the kids and we can’t wait to share our enthusiasm with them.”
