Ronald Jackson Jr. (203-F-1997, college: NC A&T, agency: BIG) is a 27 year old 203cm forward from Florida playing his 5th professional season and first with Anwil Wloclawek (Poland-OBL). Last season he suited up with : Kometa Kaposvari KK (Hungary-A Division) averaging 11.2ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 77.4%. In the 2022-2023 season he played with Reale Mutua Basket Torino (Italy-Serie A2) averaging 9.9ppg, 6.2rpg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 84.8%. In the 2021-2022 season he balled with Rogaska Crystal (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM) averaging 13.2ppg, Reb-3 (9.3rpg), 1.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 73.2%; and in the Adriatic League 2) averaged 12.8ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.7spg, Blocks-1 (1.1bpg), FGP: 63.0%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 83.3%. He played his rookie season with BG Goettingen (Germany-BBL) and Instituto Atletico Central Cordoba (Argentina-La Liga) averaging 8.0ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 55.1%, 3PT: 23.8%, FT: 64.9%. He began his basketball career at Flemng Island high school and then played 2 seasons at Hillsborough Community College (JUCO) averaging 6.7ppg, 6.6rpg, FGP: 52.6%, FT: 64.7% and 13.0ppg, 10.5rpg, 1.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 83.1%. He then played 2 more seasons at North Carolina A&T State University (NCAA) averaging 7.5ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 73.8% and.0ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.2spg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 76.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.

Thanks Ronald for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your fifth pro season and have played for 7 organizations. Do you feel like a basketball globetrotter?

Yes I do actually. I’ve played basketball in about 3 different continents and experienced things I never imagined.

Your playing your first season with Anwil Wloclawek (Poland-OBL). What kind of an experience has it been playing for this club?

The experience has been a good one thus far. Business is taken care of well and we are a strong team with good depth.

You will be facing German team Ludwigsburg soon. You already played them in Germany and lost 86-81. What is your overall impression of German basketball and have you had friends ball there?

Though I had only a short stint in Germany, I have experienced the strength of the German league. A strong competitive and organized league with good talent. I made very good friends in Germany that I still communicate with to this day.

You have always been close to winning titles a pro but still seeking that first one. This season could be that golden opportunity as your in first place in the polish league. How big is your desire to win that first chip?

Winning a championship would be an amazing accomplishment. I’ve come close and I’ve got to see what it takes to be the last team standing. It is quite a desire of mine considering I’ve never won any type of team championship since I began playing basketball. Always very close.

As a pro you have averaged more than 19 minutes per season, but this season it´s at 10 minutes in the Polish league. Do you have a different kind of role than usual?

Considering my situation this year and joining the team late being a replacement for an injured player, I was aware of my role being historically different considering the depth this team has and the success prior to me coming. However I’m always ready to compete.

The team is really stacked with a lot of bigs like Funderburk and Petrasek. How vital are the daily battles with them and others for your game? The competitive nature must be huge.

I’m a competitor at heart and have always been an underdog since I got cut from making the high school team at 16. So battling against them week in and week out along with my other teammates is a nice challenge, as they are all good players. Iron sharpens Iron so it’s only making us better.

Let´s talk a little about your career. You have seen so much, lived in many cultures and seen many different brands of basketball. How do you explain your ability to really have been able to adjust anywhere and simply produce?

I think my game is applicable to any style and any league of basketball. A guy who can do a little bit of everything, play and guard multiple positions, play defense, rebound and can make the right plays.

You played last season with Kometa Kaposvari KK (Hungary-A Division) averaging 11.2ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 77.4%. What kind of an experience was that for you and what was your fondest moment there?

My experience last year was an interesting one. One where I really had to learn to just control what I can control and be ready no matter what adjustments or random changes may occur. My fondest memory would probably be the games we won when the odds were against us.

You played the 2022-2023 season with Reale Mutua Basket Torino (Italy-Serie A2) averaging 9.9ppg, 6.2rpg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 84.8%. Many say this league belongs to the best second divisions overseas. Was it the best league that you have played in?

A2 was certainly a really good league to play in and it was competitive on both divisions. It’s definitely one of the better leagues I played in for sure.

How tough was it losing to Pistoia in the final? You had played 2 very exciting series against Milan and Treviglio. Was that some of the most exciting basketball that you have encountered in your life?

It was tough losing to Pistoia. Sometimes I wonder how things would’ve went if we won. But congrats to them they were a good team. The environment in the playoffs was very special.

You played the 2021-2022 season for Rogaska Crystal (Slovenia-Liga Nova KBM) averaging 13.2ppg, Reb-3 (9.3rpg), 1.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 73.2%; and in the Adriatic League 2) averaged 12.8ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.7spg, Blocks-1 (1.1bpg), FGP: 63.0%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 83.3%. Was that one of your best seasons as a pro?

This was one of my better seasons. I had a heavier role on this team and my coach Damjan Novakovic did well with helping me adjust to the European style of basketball.

What will you always remember from the semi-finals against top team Cedevita? They had some big time players and Yogi Ferrell.

Yes they had some big time players and a lot of depth. The city of Rogaska was proud of our efforts but Cedevita defeated us.

You split your rookie season with BG Goettingen (Germany-BBL) and Instituto Atletico Central Cordoba (Argentina-La Liga) averaging 8.0ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 55.1%, 3PT: 23.8%, FT: 64.9%; and in the BCL Americas averaged 9.0ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 58.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My wake up call was being cut! That introduced me to another side of basketball. It made me realize how much a fit and situation really matters to a team. It was during Covid as well so to go to two different continents at that time was unique.

What was it like living and playing in Argentina? You lived in a nice city Cordoba. What did you enjoy most about their culture?

I didn’t get to experience much because we were in a bubble during covid. But the weather and scenery was refreshing. Sometimes it reminded me of home and the meals were nice.

You had some well known names as teammates and coach. You played for Sebastian Ginoboli who is the brother of legend Manu and with Juan Brussino, the brother of Nicholas who played in the NBA. Did Sebastian tell any inspirational Manu stories?

No Sebastian didn’t really talk to much. I was there for a couple weeks and then we had a new coach.

You played at Hillsborough Community College (JUCO) averaging 6.7ppg, 6.6rpg, FGP: 52.6%, FT: 64.7% and 13.0ppg, 10.5rpg, 1.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 83.1%. Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO have said it was a grind but one that was very worthwhile. How was it for you?

JUCO for sure is a grind. I did 3 years there (walk-on redshirt freshman) and made it do the division 1 level. It was very difficult for me mourning the loss of my mother, trying out for the team for a month, tough workouts, balancing school and being away from home. It builds character for sure.

You made a massive jump in your game in your second season. How vital was head coach Derrick Worrels for your development? How did he help you grow best?

Huge shoutout to Coach Worrels for giving me an opportunity. He was hard on me and he instilled disciplines and lessons in me that have gotten me to this point in my career.

You then played 2 seasons at North Carolina A&T State University (NCAA) averaging 7.5ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 73.8% and 15.0ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.2spg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 76.5%. Again you made a big jump in your game in your second season. How did your game grow there?

The grind grew my game. I knew I wanted to play pro ball and I knew there were a lot of people ahead of me so I just worked on my craft on and off the court. I had good coaches and good teammates and especially my point guard Kameron Langley who’s currently on the coaching staff at Clemson.

How did head coach Jay Joyner groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Joyner taught life lessons that can be used on and off the court.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Devin Haygood?

I don’t remember playing Dev too much in 1v1 but we definitely had great battles playing king of the hill.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Pg- Kameron Langley

Sg- Jordan Stevens

SF- Aubrey Dawkins

Center – Tai Odiase

Jorge Gutierrez

What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Lebron Mj Kobe Shaq

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?

I’ll take Lebron over Jordan. He can practically do everything and guard every position, and what he’s done, we’ve never seen anything like it before. But I like to think Lebron is the greatest basketball player of all time, but Jordan is the greatest to play the game if that makes sense.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

Didn’t see it.

Thanks Ronald for the chat.