Texas Tech University Athletics
Gerlich inks Jazion Jackson, Jada Wynn
May 02, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Wynn will transfer with three years of eligibility left; Jackson will spend her final collegiate season at Tech
LUBBOCK, Texas – Head coach Krista Gerlich has turned to the portal once again, this time signing UTEP transfer Jazion Jackson and Colorado transfer Jada Wynn.
Jackson will transfer to Lubbock following a successful two-year stint at North Texas and a year at UTEP.
A 2022-23 First Team All-Conference USA selection, Jackson averaged 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists a year ago. Jackson shot 39.2 percent from the floor and 36.1 percent from three. The guard was also 79-of-109 (72.5 percent) from the line.
Jackson had 20 games with 10 or more points included back-to-back 20-point games on Jan. 19 against FIU and Jan. 21 against Florida Atlantic. The dynamic guard scored a UTEP-best 371 points last season.
During her three-year career at UNT, Jackson scored 628 points, playing in 81 games. For her career, the Dallas native has scored 999 points in 113 games.
The Lady Raiders third signee out of the portal, Wynn, appeared in 32 games a season ago, averaging 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. The combo-guard shot an impressive 38.1 percent from 3-point range (24-of-63) a season ago.
A native of Yorba Linda, Calif., Wynn signed with Colorado after a successful career at both Kings high school in Seattle and Troy high school. Wynn averaged 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game during her high school career and was named a 2022 McDonald's All-American Game nominee.
The duo will combine with Florida transfer Jordyn Merritt, Monterrey product Kelly Mora as well as fellow high school signees Achol Magot and Loghan Johnson to form the Lady Raiders 2023 signing class thus far.
Following the additions of Merritt, Jackson and Wynn, the Lady Raiders have one scholarship remaining for the 2023-24 season.
COACH SPEAK (HC KRISTA GERLICH):
On the addition of Wynn:
"Jada is a big guard and I really like having big guards. She can shoot the ball great from the 3-point line, but when you watch her game, you also notice that she is a strong finisher. She is going to be able post-up smaller guards as well as get to the rim off the dribble and finish through contact. She gives us great length defensively and can defend on the perimeter. She will be able to cause deflections and make it difficult for our opponent. But she's a knock-down 3-point shooter as well. I've known Jada's parents for a while, and they're both college coaches, so having another coach's kid in our program is great. She understands the game, has a high basketball IQ and can really pass the ball. Jada really understands what hard work means and she wanted to be a part of something special. I love that she saw what we were building last year when she came to Lubbock when we played Colorado."
ON THE ADDITION OF JACKSON:
"Jazion is an experienced guard that has played a lot of D-I basketball. We've got a lot of really great young talent, but we needed an experienced guard that can get to the rim, distribute, score and play defense. Jazion does all of those things at a really high level. I love her athleticism and how she finishes inside the paint. And then she can spot-up and hit the three. She's a scoring point guard and can play the combo-guard for us as well. I've recruited her before when I was at UTA, and I've always followed her path. She's elevated programs and won wherever she's been. Her mentality is going to be really good for us."
ON THE THREE ADDITIONS THUS FAR/THE 2023-24 ROSTER
"Our portal activity has been extremely productive. We have filled spots where we had needs. We return some great people at different spots, and they all bring something different to the table. We were able to get an athletic big that is able to play on the perimeter (Merritt), an athletic big shooter that is going to be a versatility problem (Wynn) and we were able to get an experienced athletic guard (Jackson). I think our defense has gotten significantly better in the offseason, and when you look at our roster as a whole we're going to have a lot of depth. It's going to be really exciting to watch us play."
THE 2023-24 LADY RAIDER ROSTER:
Freshmen:
Loghan Johnson | 5-10 | G | Houston, Texas
Achol Magot | 6-7 | F/C | Sunrise, Ariz.
Kelly Mora | 6-1 | F | Lubbock, Texas
Sophomores:
Kilah Freelon | 6-1 | G/F | Denver, Colo.
Bailey Maupin | 5-10 | G | Gruver, Texas
JoJo Nworie | 6-5 | F/C | Lago Nigeria | R-So.
Jasmine Shavers | 5-8 | G | Mesquite, Texas
Jada Wynn | 6-1 | G | Yorba Linda, Calif.
Juniors:
Ashley Chevalier | 5-7 | G | Chatsworth, Calif.
Rhyle McKinney | 5-9 | G | Argyle, Texas
Saga Ukkonen | 5-9 | G | Helsinski, Finland
Seniors:
Jazion Jackson | 5-9 | G | Dallas, Texas
Jazmaine Lewis | 6-4 | C | Kansas City, Mo.
Jordyn Merritt | 6-3 | F | Plano, Texas
Jackson will transfer to Lubbock following a successful two-year stint at North Texas and a year at UTEP.
A 2022-23 First Team All-Conference USA selection, Jackson averaged 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists a year ago. Jackson shot 39.2 percent from the floor and 36.1 percent from three. The guard was also 79-of-109 (72.5 percent) from the line.
Jackson had 20 games with 10 or more points included back-to-back 20-point games on Jan. 19 against FIU and Jan. 21 against Florida Atlantic. The dynamic guard scored a UTEP-best 371 points last season.
During her three-year career at UNT, Jackson scored 628 points, playing in 81 games. For her career, the Dallas native has scored 999 points in 113 games.
The Lady Raiders third signee out of the portal, Wynn, appeared in 32 games a season ago, averaging 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. The combo-guard shot an impressive 38.1 percent from 3-point range (24-of-63) a season ago.
A native of Yorba Linda, Calif., Wynn signed with Colorado after a successful career at both Kings high school in Seattle and Troy high school. Wynn averaged 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game during her high school career and was named a 2022 McDonald's All-American Game nominee.
The duo will combine with Florida transfer Jordyn Merritt, Monterrey product Kelly Mora as well as fellow high school signees Achol Magot and Loghan Johnson to form the Lady Raiders 2023 signing class thus far.
Following the additions of Merritt, Jackson and Wynn, the Lady Raiders have one scholarship remaining for the 2023-24 season.
COACH SPEAK (HC KRISTA GERLICH):
On the addition of Wynn:
"Jada is a big guard and I really like having big guards. She can shoot the ball great from the 3-point line, but when you watch her game, you also notice that she is a strong finisher. She is going to be able post-up smaller guards as well as get to the rim off the dribble and finish through contact. She gives us great length defensively and can defend on the perimeter. She will be able to cause deflections and make it difficult for our opponent. But she's a knock-down 3-point shooter as well. I've known Jada's parents for a while, and they're both college coaches, so having another coach's kid in our program is great. She understands the game, has a high basketball IQ and can really pass the ball. Jada really understands what hard work means and she wanted to be a part of something special. I love that she saw what we were building last year when she came to Lubbock when we played Colorado."
ON THE ADDITION OF JACKSON:
"Jazion is an experienced guard that has played a lot of D-I basketball. We've got a lot of really great young talent, but we needed an experienced guard that can get to the rim, distribute, score and play defense. Jazion does all of those things at a really high level. I love her athleticism and how she finishes inside the paint. And then she can spot-up and hit the three. She's a scoring point guard and can play the combo-guard for us as well. I've recruited her before when I was at UTA, and I've always followed her path. She's elevated programs and won wherever she's been. Her mentality is going to be really good for us."
ON THE THREE ADDITIONS THUS FAR/THE 2023-24 ROSTER
"Our portal activity has been extremely productive. We have filled spots where we had needs. We return some great people at different spots, and they all bring something different to the table. We were able to get an athletic big that is able to play on the perimeter (Merritt), an athletic big shooter that is going to be a versatility problem (Wynn) and we were able to get an experienced athletic guard (Jackson). I think our defense has gotten significantly better in the offseason, and when you look at our roster as a whole we're going to have a lot of depth. It's going to be really exciting to watch us play."
THE 2023-24 LADY RAIDER ROSTER:
Freshmen:
Loghan Johnson | 5-10 | G | Houston, Texas
Achol Magot | 6-7 | F/C | Sunrise, Ariz.
Kelly Mora | 6-1 | F | Lubbock, Texas
Sophomores:
Kilah Freelon | 6-1 | G/F | Denver, Colo.
Bailey Maupin | 5-10 | G | Gruver, Texas
JoJo Nworie | 6-5 | F/C | Lago Nigeria | R-So.
Jasmine Shavers | 5-8 | G | Mesquite, Texas
Jada Wynn | 6-1 | G | Yorba Linda, Calif.
Juniors:
Ashley Chevalier | 5-7 | G | Chatsworth, Calif.
Rhyle McKinney | 5-9 | G | Argyle, Texas
Saga Ukkonen | 5-9 | G | Helsinski, Finland
Seniors:
Jazion Jackson | 5-9 | G | Dallas, Texas
Jazmaine Lewis | 6-4 | C | Kansas City, Mo.
Jordyn Merritt | 6-3 | F | Plano, Texas
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