Zach Jackson is a 28 year old 198cm forward playing his 7^th professional season with German Pro A team BG Goettingen averaging 13,3ppg, 4,1rpg and 1,5apg. He played most of his career in the UK with the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders (United Kingdom-SLB) where he was 4 seasons and played a total of 144 games and won 3 titles. He also played with Kharkivski Sokoly (Ukraine-Superleague) averaging 12.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 77.8% and with :Shanan United (Japan-B3 League) averaging 12.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 84.2%. He began his basketball career with / East High School and then played with the University of Nebraska at Omaha (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 135 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.

Thanks Zach for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with BG Goettingen. I guess after winning 3 titles in 4 years in the UK, it was time for a change? 

Yes, I felt like I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish in the UK and played for a great coach. I wanted a new challenge and to try and expand my game as well. 

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Have you had any former teammates, opponents or friends ball in Germany? Did you get any advice from guys like Geno Crandle or Cartrington Love? 

I’ve spoken to Geno about the city and club that I’m playing for and he had nothing but good things to say about the situation that I’m heading into. My college teammates Daniel Norl and Mitchell Hahn have played in Pro A so I was able to get some insight through them. 

BG Goettingen has a rich history in basketball and won the 2010 Eurochallenge. Now it´s back in Pro A. What were the main reasons to join? Perhaps the challenge of helping them move back to the BBL? 

I wanted to be a main piece on a team for a coach that believed I could lead a team. The organizations situation sounded like a challenge to me and a very good opportunity to prove myself and build trust with a respected basketball club. 

How did the talks go with new head coach Fabian Strauss? What did you appreciate right away about his basketball philosophy? 

The talks with coach were straightforward, which I liked. He knew all the aspects of my game which is a good feeling as a player when being recruited. He wants to win and likes to dominate teams which is the type of attitude I like to play with and for. 

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 198cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description? 

I don’t know what player I really try to play like, I just try to approach the game like a Kobe or Kawhi 

Would versatility be a good description to your game? It seems like that developed really well in the UK? 

I would like to think I’m a three-level scorer and developing more-so into an all-around playmaker. I want to be known as that and a very good defender. 

You have always been a very efficient scorer in your career. Would you describe yourself now as a 3 level scorer? How well is that developed? 

Yes, I would. I’ve tried to develop different aspects of my game every off-season but not go too fast with it. I think things began to click last year and hope to continue that this season. 

You’re a very good 3 point shooter. You eclipsed the 40% mark twice in the UK and are coming off a 46% season in Leicester. Where would you rate your 3 point shooting development at the moment? 

I think I could get even better at catch and shoot threes. There’s times where I have hesitated in the past and I look to eliminate that completely. 

You seem to be a solid defender. How big is your goal on becoming a great defender and what do you still have to do to reach the highest level? 

It’s always been a thing for me as a player to take pride in my defense. As a pro I want to be known for being a legitimate two-way player. It comes down to conditioning in my opinion 

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player? 

Conditioning 

Last season you played your fourth and last season with the  Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders (United Kingdom) averaging 17.7ppg), 5.0rpg, 3.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT-1(46.5%), FT: 81.8%. How special was winning this league title? The team has many new guys come in. 

It was very special, especially being close to many other trophies throughout the year. We came up short a few times but were able to stay focused and be the team that came out on top in the end. We were a team built of a lot of young players and were able to mature to win the big games. 

You grew as a scorer with the Leicester Riders. How did your game grow in the UK in those 4 years? 

I was able to add more to my game each year by earning more trust from my coach. I also played with top-level teammates that helped me expand my game as well. 

You played a season with the  Shanan United (Japan-B3 League) averaging 12.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 84.2%. What kind of an experience was that? It seems like the B” is underrated but very respected. How is it with the B3? 

It was a completely different style of basketball. The country was beautiful and the organization was good to me but if I’m honest it was hard to adjust to playing out of position. The challenge was ultimately good for my career in my opinion.  

You played 3 seasons with the Leicester Riders. How fun and enriching was this time? What did you enjoy most about your time there besides the winning? 

It was good for me on a personal level as I met my wife while I was in Leicester, getting married to her and having two of my most successful years as a player made it feel like home. 

Did guys like Geno Crandle and Patrick Whelan become like brothers to you? 

Yea I feel like you always remember and have a special bond with the teammates that you win with. 

You won the double in 2022 winning cup and league title. Where do you rate the 88-87 game 3 win over Plymouth in your top pro games? How exciting was that finish?

Yea that was a big game confidence wise for me, Geno had been ejected early in the game and it was looking scary for our team. That was the game that I felt I really earned my coach’s respect by being able to come up big under a pressure situation and led to my next two good years with the Leicester Riders. 

You then beat top team London Lions 78-75 scoring 12 points. What will you always remember from that game? 

I remember feeling as if I had never played in a game that full of talent and never in an arena that was as nice as the O2. It was one of my favorite games I’ve played in for sure. 

You played your rookie season with Kharkivski Sokoly (Ukraine-Superleague) averaging 12.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 77.8%. 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 my very first day of practice. My team had told me that my teammate was taking me to practice the next day. I figured he had a car, but he just started walking when I met him the next day. We ended up walking 45 minutes to practice. We had another practice that evening. 

How important was a guy like Kareem Jamar in your rookie season? Was he like a mentor to you? 

Yea he was a big part of me learning that it is just you and you only to vouch for yourself. He had a very high IQ and was a beast on defense. His style of play was definitely something I took away from the experience in Ukraine. 

You played at the  University of Nebraska at Omaha (NCAA) from 2015-2019. You made huge strides as a player there especially in your last 2 seasons. What kind of a player were you in 2015 and what kind of player did you become in 2019? 

I was more of a role player my first two years. We had juniors and seniors that were the main scorers and I just tried to make plays that would get me on the court and gain my coaches trust. My junior year, I was in a position to be the main option on the team and I put in the work over the off season to take advantage of the opportunity. 

You reached 2 Summit league titles and had countless great games in the NCAA. What was your fondest moment on the court with the University of Nebraska-Omaha? 

I would say losing in the championship really stuck with me. It helped me appreciate how hard it is to win a championship and to not take it for granted. 

How did head coach Derrin Hanson groom and prepare you best for a pro career? 

He helped me a lot by being honest with me all the time. He never told me something just to make me feel better and I honestly appreciated that a lot. I learned a lot about leadership while playing for him. 

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or JT Gibson? 

Myself, every time 

Who is the toughest player that you ever battled that reached the NBA? 

John Konchar 

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? 

Geno Crandall, Marc Loving, Charles Thompson, Kareem Jamaar, Marcus Tyus 

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? 

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Kareem  

Who is your GOAT? 

Michael Jordan 

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

I didn’t see it but I heard it was trash. 

Thanks Zach for the chat.