There is a new kid from town.
Luke Jackson, a freshman guard from Creswell, is slowly stepping into the role vacated by departed senior A.D. Smith as the local hero of the Oregon men’s basketball team.
Jackson had his first big game Saturday night against Portland State, and his three-pointers and jumpers garnered just as much McArthur Court crowd reaction as a Freddie Jones alley-oop dunk.
“I feel like I’m fitting in more and more as I get more minutes on the court,” Jackson said.
Jackson had the best night of his young Oregon career Saturday, scoring 13 points to lead the Ducks in their 84-66 win over the Vikings at McArthur Court. He added six rebounds, three assists and two steals in 16 minutes of floor time.
“He is a very skilled basketball player,” Oregon head coach Ernie Kent said. “He can shoot the outside ball as well play inside.
“He’s getting into a little bit of a groove, that’s why I wanted to leave him out on the floor as much as I could tonight.”
Jackson’s most electrifying moment came with five minutes left in the game, when the freshman drained two three-pointers from well behind the three-point stripe to give the Ducks their biggest lead at 71-38.
After the second three-pointer, the crowd was on their feet, and making close to as much noise as 7,471 people can make.
“I know a lot of people here, growing up in this small community,” Jackson said. “It’s good to have support.”
Jackson received an ovation when he sat down for the last time, with four minutes left in the game. It may not have equaled the ovation Smith received the last time he took the court against Oregon State last season, but the hometown affection was evident.
“It felt really good to get a few points tonight,” Jackson said. “I just got into a rhythm, and the shots started dropping.”
Jackson wasn’t the only freshman to step up Saturday night. James Davis, Jay Anderson and Luke Ridnour all set career records for points Saturday night, and all but Ridnour set career records for minutes.
“It was nice to see everyone step up tonight,” Jackson said about his fellow freshmen.
Ridnour pointed to a three-minute stretch in the second half when all four freshmen were on the floor, and accounted for 12 straight Oregon points.
“It’s good to see them get their feet wet a little bit,” said senior center Julius Hicks. “We’re going to need them down the road.”
The freshmen were effective as well as potent. The four players combined to shoot 13-for-28 from the floor, 9 of 19 from three-point land and 4-for-7 from the charity stripe. Jackson was the most effective freshman, shooting 5 of 8 from the floor and 3-for-4 from behind the three-point line.
Kent hopes the freshmen continue to develop into offensive threats.
“We have so much growth potential in this team,” Kent said.
Oregon will try to grow once more when they take on Portland Tuesday at Mac Court.