Despite the ASU women's basketball team's shortcomings, graduate guard Jazion Jackson's arrival to Tempe has been one to celebrate. The transfer guard is known for her cutthroat defense and seemingly constant energy.
Jackson began her career at North Texas, where she started 72 of her 81 appearances and led the team in assists during the 2021-22 season.
Jackson transferred to the University of Texas at El Paso for the 2022-23 season. There, she was named First-Team All-Conference USA and led the Miners in steals per game at a 2.06 average. Not only that, she finished second on the team in points, rebounds and assists.
Jackson had a signature moment at UTEP when she sunk a game-winning shot against No. 21 Middle Tennessee to earn the team its first-ranked win since 1998.
After that season, Jackson again entered the portal and settled on Lubbock's Texas Tech. However, she never suited up for the Red Raiders as she suffered a season-ending right leg injury before the season started.
The 2024-25 season is Jackson's last year of eligibility. In a seemingly yearly routine, she entered the transfer portal for the last time and found a home in Tempe.
Since Jackson joined ASU, she has been a revelation on the defensive side of the floor for the Sun Devils. The graduate leads the team in steals with 2.3 per game and her tally of 44 takeaways tops the charts for ASU. Jackson's steals are even more impressive given she's only started in 11 of 19 games she's played in.
"She takes pride in defense," said head coach Natasha Adair. "She can score the ball, but she'd rather get a stop. She'd rather get the steal to throw it long for one of her teammates to score in transition."
Jackson has arguably been the team's best defender, and she's pushing for the title of best rebounder, too. She is tied for second on the team with six boards a night.
Jackson stands at just 5-foot-9-inches tall, six inches under the Sun Devils leading rebounder Nevaeh Parkinson, which is a testament to her hustle.
"She, offensively and defensively, rebounds the ball for us very well, helping our bigs out," said sophomore guard Jyah LoVett. "Her presence is always felt, regardless if it shows up with the stats or not."
Jackson has served as a great glue player for the Sun Devils, especially in a tough stretch in which ASU lost nine straight contests. On the whole, ASU women's basketball has struggled and fallen to an 8-16 overall record and 2-10 Big 12 record.
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Throughout the stretch, Jackson's effort has never wavered as night in and night out, she leaves everything on the floor.
"She pushes me, makes me better, she makes everybody better," said graduate guard Tyi Skinner. "Everybody wants pressure on defense and somebody that is going to work hard and hustle, and I think that she brings that to the table."
Her contributions can be quantified in some areas, but a lot of what she does can't be seen on the stat sheet.
"She maxes out," Adair said. "She finishes every game exhausted and she is really what makes us go defensively."
Though it has been a difficult season, many silver linings have shown themselves over the last few months for the Sun Devils. Jackson is one of those to note that will need to come together if ASU wants to make a run.
Edited by Jack Barron, Sophia Braccio and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporters at mseal6@asu.edu and follow @masonseal23 on X.
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Mason is a freshman studying sports journalism. This is his second semester with The State Press. He has also worked for Inferno Intel and WCSN.
