Jackson plans quiet holiday

By Gary Bedore     Nov 22, 2007

Most of Kansas University’s basketball players will be eating Thanksgiving dinner at Lawrence native Brady Morningstar’s childhood home today.

While appreciative of an offer to chow with the Morningstars or with coach Bill Self, whose house is always open to his players, senior Darnell Jackson will pass this year.

“I’ll stay in my room and eat with my mom, enjoy Thanksgiving with her,” Jackson said of mom Shawn of Midwest City, Okla. “She came up to see me, and I’m really thankful for that.”

The two will have a lot to talk about : including the first 3-point basket of Darnell’s career in his first official attempt.

The 6-foot-8, 250-pound Jackson swished a 3 from the wing in front of KU’s bench with 6:59 left in the second half of KU’s 87-46 rout of Northern Arizona on Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“The 3 felt good,” Jackson said. “I knew the clock shot was going down before Rod (Stewart, eight points, four assists) threw it to me. Coach Self said, ‘Knock it down, D.J.’ When I heard that, I knew I should shoot.”

Self wonders if Jackson may have been hearing things.

“These guys are unbelievable with some of the quotes they come up with,” the coach cracked. “Oh my goodness gracious, I don’t think that’s the case. He is a good shooter. It was good to see him make one. I guess he and Shady (Darrell Arthur) have both made one now. His was a little softer than Shady’s. Shady banked his in (against Louisiana Monroe).”

Amazingly, Jackson launched another 3 the next time he touched the ball.

He missed.

“I got too greedy,” Jackson said. “The second one was not so pretty. I should have never shot it.”

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