Jackson Brooks
 Art by Ada | |
| No. 88 – Edmonton Excavators | |
|---|---|
| Position | Guard |
| Species | Swamp Rabbit ( Leporidae ) |
| Gender | Male |
| Personal information | |
| Born |
January 15, 1999 Houston, TX |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 179 lb (81 kg) |
| Shoots | Right-handed |
| Career information | |
| School | Texas Tech |
| FBA draft | 2021 / Undrafted |
| Pro playing career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
| 2021 - 2022 | Las Vegas Wildcards |
| 2022-2023 | Montana Howlers |
| 2023-present | Edmonton Excavators |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Contract information | |
| Contract year | 2023 |
| 2024 Salary | $1 million |
| Player Contacts | |
| (IC) Agent | Faded |
| (OOC) Creator | Faded |
| (OOC) Actor | Unknown |
| (OOC) Usage | Ask me before any use |
Biography
One could say Jackson was always destined for another sport. His father played professional baseball before retiring and settling down in Houston with a 5-year old Jackson and his Mother. Though retired, his father became a coach for the highschool. Even during the season he would make time to take Jackson out back and practice his pitching.
By the time Jackson hit highschool there was little doubt he would be a star on the team. But baseball wasn’t his only passion. When the Texas Lone Stars moved into Austin his father had bought tickets to a few of their games and Jackson was hooked. He honestly preferred basketball, there wasn’t that overhanging expectation that had started to creep in whenever he took the mound, but he would never dare say that outloud. He was expected to follow his father and head to the FFBL. Nonetheless his father allowed him to play basketball in highschool, given it took place in the fall season it kept Jackson in shape for spring baseball.
He eventually landed on attending Texas Tech, a school with a strong baseball program within the state and a decent basketball team. Yet Texas Techs’ baseball coach refused to let his incoming ace pitcher risk injury playing a secondary sport. Jackson thought about threatening to transfer, but one disapproving look from his father’s eyes shut that down.
Freshman year had started off great, but with seven games left to go disaster struck. After throwing a pitch Jackson heard a pop and immediate pain in his elbow. The rabbit immediately grabbed at it, his coach running over and subbing him off the mound. Doctor’s confirmed it was a Ulnar Collateral Ligament tear, and that his only hope to continue playing was Tommy John surgery. Though the success rates had gone up since the early days of such a surgery, it became clear the next year he could no longer generate the same pace or spin on his pitches, all but killing any hope of making it to the majors.
Jackson didn’t exactly know how to react to the news, baseball had become a grind, something that he did because he was expected to. But it was painful to know all his hard work, all those hours pushing himself was for not. He was approached by Techs’ basketball coach. He suggested, if he was still up for it, to try out for the basketball team. Given the opportunity he seized it, while his father tried convincing his son he could switch him over to another position on the field, they both knew the rabbit had never been a hitter and stood no chance of developing such a skillset in only a few years.
Finally free of his father’s legacy and expectations, he was able to enjoy what he was doing. Walking on to the team had proved easier than expected. Having not played competitively in two seasons the rabbit clearly had rust, but he easily rose up the bench and played significant minutes as their 6th fur. In his final year he rose to the starting point guard position, with good athleticism and court vision he could dish the ball quite easily to his teammates and started to catch the eyes of scouts.
Given an outside shot to make the FBA as a potential late 2nd Rounder, the rabbit declared for the draft.