PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Jhivvan Jackson, Euless Trinity

Sport: Boys Basketball

Class: Sophomore

Position: Guard

His story: Born with basketball in his blood, Jackson moved from Puerto Rico to Dallas in 2010 and quickly took notice from Euless Trinity – starting the past two years at the varsity level. He started playing when he was five and immediately fell in love with the game. Already belonging to the Puerto Rico national team, Jackson hopes to one day become a McDonald’s All-American, obtain a Division-I scholarship where he can further his education, and develop his skills in basketball toward becoming a professional player.

Fun fact: His name, Jhivvan, is a variation of the name “Jeevan,” which in Hindi means “life.” His father played for the national team of Panama and played pro ball in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. His grandfather was the coach of the national team of Puerto Rico, Panama and Argentina.

He said: “With my skills in ninth grade, I had the opportunity to play with the varsity team. It was a great experience because I had the chance to play with my older brother Jalen and All-American Myles Turner. Playing varsity basketball has been a great experience for me because it has made me a better player.”

Coach Mark Villines said: “Jhivvan is going to be something special.”

- Brian Gosset

This story was originally published February 16, 2015 at 4:32 PM with the headline "PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Jhivvan Jackson, Euless Trinity."