Taiyanna Jackson

Taiyanna Jackson (born November 24, 2000) is an American professional basketball player who is a free agent. She played college basketball for the Trinity Valley Cardinals and Kansas Jayhawks and was selected by the Connecticut Sun in the second round of the 2024 WNBA draft.

Taiyanna Jackson
Personal information
Born (2000-11-24) November 24, 2000
Munster, Indiana, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Career information
High schoolCentral High School
(East Chicago, Indiana)
Montverde Academy
(Montverde, Florida)
CollegeTrinity Valley CC (2019–2021)
Kansas (2021–2024)
WNBA draft2024: 2nd round, 19th overall pick
Selected by the Connecticut Sun
PositionCenter
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× First-team All-Big 12 (2023, 2024)

Early life

Jackson was born on November 24, 2000, in Munster, Indiana.[1] She attended Central High School in East Chicago, Indiana, briefly transferred to Montverde Academy, and then transferred back to Central and graduated from there.[2][3] At Central, she averaged 12.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 2.2 assists per game, which included 17.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 3.1 assists as a senior.[4] She was named all-area and all-state three times and was ranked as a four-star recruit, being the third-best player in Indiana per ESPN.[4] She initially committed to play college basketball for the Ole Miss Rebels, but later decided to go the junior college route by committing to Trinity Valley Community College.[5][6]

College career

Jackson played two seasons at Trinity Valley, averaging 10.3 points per game and helped the team win a Region XIV title while receiving National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 14 Freshman of the Year honors.[6][7] She transferred to the Kansas Jayhawks in 2021 and placed fourth-nationally with a school record 5.7 blocks per game, being named to the Big 12 Conference All-Defensive team and honorable mention All-Big 12.[4][7][8]

In her second season at Kansas, 2022–23, Jackson was named unanimous first-team All-Big 12 and Big 12 All-Defensive after leading the conference in rebounds, blocked shots, field goal percentage and double-doubles.[4] She broke her own school record with 109 blocked shots and averaged 15.2 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.[4] She was an honorable mention All-American and was the most valuable player of the Women's National Invitation Tournament after averaging 17.0 points and 13.0 rebounds there.[4][9]

She returned for a final season in 2023–24 and broke the career blocks record at Kansas.[10] She averaged 12.6 points and 10.0 rebounds and placed fourth in the nation for blocked shots, with 97.[11] She also finished with a career total of 41 double-doubles, second-most in school history.[11] She was selected an honorable mention All-American, first-team Big 12 and a Big 12 All-Defensive selection.[4] In her Kansas career, she started every one of her 99 games and recorded averages of 12.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.[12]

Professional career

Jackson was drafted in the second round, 19th overall, by the Connecticut Sun in the 2024 WNBA draft.[13] She was waived on May 10.[14]

References
  1. "Taiyanna Jackson". Women's National Basketball Association.
  2. "Local roundup: Tai-yanna Jackson returns to East Chicago Central". Chicago Tribune. October 10, 2016.
  3. "GIRLS BASKETBALL: E.C. Central's Taiyanna Jackson becoming mentally tough leader". The Times of Northwest Indiana. January 16, 2019.
  4. "Taiyanna Jackson". Kansas Jayhawks.
  5. "Girls basketball notes: East Chicago Central's Tai-Yanna Jackson finds perfect fit in Ole Miss". Chicago Tribune. November 28, 2018.
  6. Ratner, Nikki (March 22, 2024). "Kansas Standout Taiyanna Jackson is Putting the World on Notice, One Blocked Shot at a Time". Slam.
  7. DeLuca, Tyler (January 8, 2023). "Kansas is soaring behind Taiyanna Jackson". The Next Hoops.
  8. "Taiyanna Jackson Named to Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List". KSAL. January 24, 2023.
  9. Lovergine, Vince (April 4, 2023). "Taiyanna Jackson's personality shines on and off the court". WIBW-TV.
  10. Guskey, Jordan (March 7, 2024). "Inside what Taiyanna Jackson has meant to Kansas women's basketball during her career". The Topeka Capital-Journal.
  11. Bedore, Gary (April 15, 2024). "Kansas Jayhawks' Taiyanna Jackson selected in Monday's Round 2 of 2024 WNBA Draft". The Kansas City Star.
  12. Guskey, Jordan (April 15, 2024). "Connecticut Sun select Kansas women's basketball's Taiyanna Jackson in 2024 WNBA draft". The Topeka Capital-Journal.
  13. "KU's Taiyanna Jackson selected by Connecticut Sun in WNBA Draft". KWCH-DT. April 15, 2024.
  14. Butterfield, Christine (May 10, 2024). "Connecticut Sun waive 2024 WNBA draft picks Taiyanna Jackson, Helena Pueyo from official roster". CT Insider. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
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