Sade Jackson called it a long and dreadful process.
The Aquinas grad’s search for a college continued through July as she was looking for an offer from a Division I school, but it never came. Instead she found the program that was the best fit for her on all levels and the 5-foot-6 guard recently committed to play basketball at Division II Adelphi University on Long Island.
“It was kind of a relief,” she said. “I felt like it was finally over.”
The Northeast-10 school became an option in the second week of July after Jackson went down to an open gym. Jackson began the process of applying to the school. While interested, she wanted to be absolutely certain Adelphi, where she will get a partial scholarship, was the place for her. Her experience at the school’s freshman orientation in mid-July finally sold her.
“I did all the things that I had to do for Adelphi, just to see,” said Jackson, who played her AAU ball with New Heights. “I wanted to go there. I knew I wanted to go there, but I wanted to get a feel for everything.”
New Heights coach Rock Rosa said that as Jackson’s school search wore on she came to the realization that her basketball career might be over, playing Division I became less important and her focus shifted to the best academic and overall option. Jackson initially wanted to leave New York and was prepared to try to walk-on at Old Dominion. Adelphi however provided the perfect balance.
“I felt like I did the right thing,” Jackson said. “Everything happens for a reason. Adelphi is where I am at and I’m there for a reason.”
She joins a team that has had three coaches in the last year. Kelley Watts was fired in January due reportedly to an incident with a player during a halftime lecture and replaced on an interim basis by assistant and former Mary Louis star Donna Lohrey. Heather Jacobs, formerly of Division III Daniel Webster College, was hired in May to take over a team that was 4-23 last season.
“The team, they seemed close,” Jackson said. “It was just a new start, new coach, new everything. It was time for a new beginning.”
Jackson helped lead Aquinas to the CHSAA Archdiocesan Class B title as a junior as the No. 5 seed. She scored 14 points in the team’s CHSAA state final loss to Mt. Mercy Academy of Buffalo. As a senior, she was the Bears’ unquestioned leader and playmaker.
Jackson, who will join former Archbishop Molloy guard Marielle Duryea at Adelphi, has the ability to break down defenses and make her teammates around her better. She wants to major in sports management.
“Her mom has always been into the academic piece not the basketball piece,” Rosa said. “I think it was very satisfying for her and her mom…I’m really happy for her.”