re: Chris Jackson...I was blessed to see him play...

In winter 1987, I covered a game in Lake Charles between Gulfport High School and Washington-Marion in the Popeyes Classic. This was, I think, the first year of the 3-point line in high schools. Maybe the second. Washington-Marion was reigning 3A state champion, having defeated the St. Thomas More team Lyle Mouton played for 50-49 in the championship game earlier that year. I think Gulfport was reigning 5A champion of Mississippi, but my memory is fuzzy about that.

Chris Jackson scored 55 points in the game, which was for the championship. The player guarding him, Randall Starland, was the state high jump champion. Jackson's between-the-legs-dribble, stop-and-pop jump shot was something Starland could never defend.

Here's the thing: Jackson made nine 3-point shots in the second quarter, including eight on consecutive trips down the floor. Fans, lined up four and five deep on that baseline at the St. Louis High School gym, took to raising their arms (signifying a 3) as soon as CJ crossed midcourt.

It remains the most amazing sustained performance I've ever seen in person at a basketball game. I saw Maravich on television, but never in person.

I had a VHS tape of the CJ game in Lake Charles and lent it to a co-worker, and I never saw it again. He swears he returned it, but ...

Jackson missed a dunk during the tournament, which he'd never done before, and his coach said "He'll practice that 200 times a day from now on." I'm sure he did. He famously shot hundreds of free throws every day, starting over when he'd miss. This was before we knew about his OCD issues and Tourette syndrome.

Anyway, I discovered this thread while surfing and wanted to share my memories of Jackson. Hope everyone is doing well.