Like to say thanks to all the players and parents on a great season. We won some and we lost some but we all got better. I hope that you all have enjoyed this season as much as I have. Now it's time to close up until next season. Good luck to you all in middle school and high as well as Elementary School. I will always be pulling for you all. Until next season God bless you all. WE ARE NOW CLOSE 

"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes" 

"Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books - especially the bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day"

"Young people need models, not critics."

"If I were a young coach today, I would be extremely careful in selecting assistants."   

Starting next week, all teams will have one coach or two coaches for each team. This coach will be your practice coach as well as your game coach. I will oversee the whole program. Here are the coaching assignments:
4th Grade Boys: Head Coach: Coach Chris and Coach RJ - Assistant
Varsity Girls: Head Coach: Coach Stacy and Coach Chris - Assistant
7th & 8th Grade Girls: Coach Jackson
JV Girls: Coach Jackson
7th Grade Boys and Varsity Boys: Coach Jackson

I will place my other assistant coaches according to the games and according to the practice needs with me, to help me out with the teams that I am coaching, as I see fit. Starting next week, all head coaches will be required to run their own practice. I will be around if needed. There will be no more 6 to 7 coaches at one practice. That is not necessary. Please enjoy working with your team and always remember Fairness comes first.

I need ALL players who are traveling to purchase an AAU membership and bring me a copy of the membership card. It is recommended that you or your child carry a copy of the membership card also. The cost of the AAU membership is $14.00. You will need to enter the club code for the Jackson All-Stars club.  The club code and the website are listed below. Please do this ASAP. Thank you.

AAU website: play.aausports.org
Club Code: WYT74B

Varsity Team:
Destiney Urzua
Ambreece Gaskins
Alyssa Ceja
Morgan Boesiger
Selah Bushnell
Natalie Acuna-Rodriguez
Aleah Jakubowsky
Alecia Beltran
Jozzette Reyes
Maxine Tennant
Faith Mora
Chanel Vernon


JV Team:
Alyssa Renteria
Aliyah Annis
Ariyanna Prieto
Katelyn Dizon
Stella Castillo
Angelica Sanchez
Mariah Schlapfer
Alexandra Orozco
Itzel Santiago
Emily Ramirez
Nadia Altamimi


7th Grade Team:
Bella Diaz
Leanna Bayhonan
Sophia Castillo
Camryn Dacpano
Alondra Orozco
Anahi Ceballos
Dominayah Black
Taliyah Champaco
Aeja Brooks
Daeja Hollands
Mia Windham
Jayna Schalesky

8th Grade Team:
Maria Acuna-Rodriguez
Elena Sanders 
Jade Contapay
Nathalie Morales
Alize Ayala
Mika Perez
Neveah Black 
Sara Wolf
CC Padilla

Throughout the summer, there will be players that will play on both the 8th grade team and the JV team. The 8th grade team will be your main team and Coach Jackson will let you know which game you will be playing in.
 

Here are the new players from last week's practices that are the Players of the Week! I have chosen several players who have attended practice, worked hard, and shown commitment to becoming successful on and off the court. I will be giving them a certificate at their next practice to show my appreciation for their dedication to the program. Every week I will choose new players from each team and present them with a certificate.  Thank you to all of my players that have shown tremendous effort in each practice. 

11-Under Boys and Girls
Elijah DeGuzman 

6th Grade Girls
Dominayah Black

7th Grade Girls
Aeja Brooks
Bella Diaz

8th Grade Girls
Maria Acuna-Rodrigues

9th Grade Girls
Nadia Altamimi
Katelyn Dizon
Aliyah Annis

High School Girls
Ambreece Gaskins
Morgan Boesiger
Aleah Jakubowsky

7th Grade Boys
River Carrillo-Mendoza

Just a friendly reminder to all parents and players about practice. I totally understand some of you had school today and you were going to miss practice. Now that tryouts are over, all players must show up on a regular basis unless you have track practice, softball or baseball games or something else dealing with your middle/high school. Just a heads up, I know what time practices in all the other sports are over so with that being said keep it real. I set up the high school boys and girls practices for 6:30pm to give you a chance to get out of your practice from the high school and make sure you make it to the Jackson All-Star practice. If you fail to do that, do not expect to get in the game when tournament time comes because your playing time will be very, very limited. I promised that everyone will play in Every Game but I never said how much. It could be for as little as 30 seconds and I've done exactly what I told you I would do and that is to get them in the game. I am not going to have players missing practice and other players coming to practice and working hard and a player that misses practice gets more playing time than the player that comes to practice. That is not going to work...wrong program. Plain and simple. You come to practice and you put the work in the same as the other players and we have no problem. If you don't come to practice, we have a problem. During game time you have a problem, you won't be playing. I'm very passionate about practice and treating people fairly. I won't change that for anybody, not even my own kid. If you don't come to practice you won't play. The good thing about it is I don't have any friends in the program and if I did that goes for my friend's too. Practice is very important for us all. So parents and players, let's make this very clear so you won't be coming up to me during tournaments and asking me why your child did not play much in the game. My answer to you will be to make sure they are at practice so that we won't have this problem. We earn playing time in practice. If you don't come to practice you might as well bring your popcorn because you're going to be watching from the sidelines and that's for everybody. I don't believe in Superstars, I hate that word. I believe in hard work. I don't care how much money you paid. If your child doesn't come to practice your child won't be playing. We have a lot of great players out there that need to be taught the fundamentals and the right way to play the game.  If you don't like what I'm saying, feel free to call me and let me know and I'll give you your money back and you can go somewhere else that will allow you to come to practice whenever you want. But you're not going to do that in my program. I understand if you can't make it every time and I always encourage that your school activities come first. But don't think for one minute I don't understand what's going on. Now the ball is in your court and you make the choices. The choices you make from this point on will tell me where you need to be and which team do I need to put you on. That's why I didn't tell everybody what team they were on yet. Just because you played 8th grade last year or you played Varsity last year doesn't automatically put you back on the varsity team this year. Just remember we've got a JV girls team and a varsity girls team and we've got two 8th grade girls teams, team A and team B. As for the varsity girls, we don't have any seniors yet until school is out so any girl that is still a junior can play JV...don't get it mixed up that because you are going to be a senior or junior that you are automatically going to be on the varsity team. I don't play that. I put the best player where they need to be to succeed. With me, if you don't earn it you won't get it. Just another reminder, if you have not paid your first payment you cannot show up without that. It must be paid before you even practice. No questions asked. Just want to always keep it 100% with you all so we will have no miscommunication. I'm telling you what I expect up front. Have a great, great day tomorrow and I'll see some of you at practice tomorrow and I'll see the rest of you at practice on Wednesday.

May 6-7 -- 2nd Annual Battle of the Court Supremacy -- All Teams
Las Positas College
3000 Campus Hill Drive
Livermore CA 94551

Granada High School
400 Wall Street                                     
Livermore, CA 94550

Hotel Information:
Holiday Inn Express
3000 Constitution Drive
Livermore CA 94551
(925) 961-9600

Two Queen Beds $139
Two Queen Beds with Pull-Out Sofa Bed $149
Breakfast Included
Code: JAS
Offer Good ONLY through Monday 05/01/17 -- after this date the cost will be $179 / $189

May 20-21 -- Pre-Memorial Day Classic -- All Teams
Hardwood Palace
1091 Tinker Road
Rocklin, Ca 95765

Hotel Information: Call hotel directly to book and mention you are with Jackson All-Stars
Holiday Inn Express
1398 East Roseville Parkway
Roseville CA 95661
(916) 774-6060

King Bed or King Bed with Pull-Out Sofa Bed $119.99 + taxes
Breakfast Included

June 3-4 -- Hoops on the Hill Tournament - Oakland CA -- Girls ONLY
Northern California's largest Girls AAU basketball tournament. Where the best play.

June 10-11 -- No Mercy - Menlo Park CA -- All Teams 

July 1-2 -- Summer Hoops Series -- Hardwood Palace - Rocklin CA -- All Teams
Hardwood Palace
1091 Tinker Road
Rocklin CA 95765

Hotel Information:  Call hotel directly to book your room and mention you are with Jackson All-Stars
Holiday Inn Express
1398 East Roseville Parkway
Roseville CA 95661
(916) 774-6060

Two Queen Beds $109.99 + taxes
Breakfast Included

July 8-9 -- Heat Wave -- Bay Area -- Boys Only
This will be the 5th tournament for the boys. The girls already have 5 tournaments. 

Here are some very important things that you should know up front:  We will have some opportunities for players to make money to help out with their fees but all payments will be due on time for all players.  I do not make deals.  All players will pay the same amount whether you have one child or two children playing - the price will be the same for each child.  No discounts are available.  I'm sorry and please don't ask.  I am not willing to pay your child's fees to have him or her play for me. That won't happen...sorry.  My program is run on your club fees.  That's how I keep this program going.  After the first day of practice NO REFUNDS will be given back to anyone.  Even if down the line your child quits, he or she will not get a refund back and will be be responsible for the remaining balance.  Each parent will need to sign a contract with their child on the first day of practice, if your child is picked for a team.  This contact will explain all the things you and your child will be responsible for.  If you don't take advantage of the fundraiser opportunities that will all be on you.  Parents are responsible for getting their kids to tournaments and to practice on time.  We have opened practices so parents are welcome as long as they don't interfere with practice and their child.  Only parents that have a child in the program can watch practice.  People who we aren't familiar with will be asked to leave for the safety of your child.  Remember all players will play in the tournament if they attend practice.  NO practice = NO playing time.  Now is a good time to start saving your money so you won't have any problems taking care of your child's fees when the time comes.  Thanks and take care.  Go All-Stars!!

The Jackson All-Stars program has been in the Salinas area for the past 20 years and is led by Coach Darren Jackson.  I have been coaching local middle and high school teams for the past 20+ years.  I currently coach at North Salinas High School as the Girl's Varsity Basketball Coach.  I have been with this program for the past 17 years and have reached a coaching milestone of 300+ wins with this program.  If you want your child to get better with their fundamental basketball skills, learn how to play team basketball, and have fun this summer then you want to join our program.
There are a lot of choices in the area for travel basketball but I am the guy that makes it happen.  I make sure that your child (regardless of the school they attend) will be ready for their basketball season.  I work them hard but all my players go on to make their school team and earn playing time.  I have worked with players from the Monterey Peninsula to South Monterey County.  I don't exclude any players that are willing to work hard to get better over the summer.  Now, I can't promise you Showcase Tournaments, NBA Player Camps or a College Scholarship.  I'm not a college scout so I can't make that promise.  We don't have fancy uniforms with all the matching accessories either.  What I can promise is that I will make sure that your child improves their fundamental skills, is treated fairly, gets playing time this summer, and has fun doing it.
The choice is yours.  You need to go and check out other programs.  Look at the whole program and then come check us out.  I am not going to knock other programs down to get your child.  I will not start early to get the local kids in my program first.  I will let my wins/losses record speak for itself.  Take a survey...look at all the local players (middle, high school, JC players) and ask them which team they played with at one point in their career.  I guarantee that
75%-80% have gone through our program.  I know that some boys players have left when I couldn't coach all the teams but I am rebuilding the boy's teams, bringing in new coaching staff, and making the commitment to this.  Other programs will try to knock me down, and tell you lies about what I don't do.  They will tell you that I am a Girl's Coach and can't do anything for the boys.  I'm here to prove them wrong.  I work with ALL players!  I'm not about name dropping or highlighting my
run-ins with NBA players or coaches.  If you look at all the local high school teams (boys or girls) in the area...which team is consistently in the Wins column?  North Salinas Girls.  Which local team consistently reaches the play-offs year after year?  North Salinas Girls. I am the BEST...hands down!  I have the records to prove it...I get results!  If you want the BEST for your child...you have to bring them to the BEST!  Plain and Simple...my program is here to stay! 
WE ARE the Jackson All-Stars and WE ARE "Building Tomorrow's Champions!"

They don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

- Pat Summit

-Respect, trust, and loyalty flows on a two-way street. Good rule of thumb to live by.... you teach people how to treat you.          

-Successful people make winning choices with every action.

-Players strive to play your hardest and do your best. Rather than trying to be the best.              
                                                             

-Character is what makes Champions out of talent.

-Successful people surround themselves with "energy givers" not "energy vampires."                                                                  
          

-Coaches that don't put the time in with their players, find ways to blame coaches that do, when they are not successful.    
By Darren Jackson 

Congratulations to Coach Jackson...he was recently nominated as a LifeChanger of the Year for 2016-2017.  Please follow the link below (it's the black square with the x) to view his page and leave a comment of Congratulations.  Share his LifeChanger page on Facebook to show your support.

Like us on Facebook! If you are not a fan...become one...join our page...add comments...add pictures!! I also post information on our fan page...it's another way to stay updated!!                                            

Melissa Rocamora Jackson is a fan of

Jackson All-Stars

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Check out this video...as we prepare for the start of a new basketball season, let us remember how to be supportive of our athletes! 

http://youtu.be/geufhfqUi5s 

Players that play with love - love for their team, love of the journey, love of the competition and a love for each other - will max out as a team. Love replaces fear, jealousy, envy, feeling sorry for oneself and anger. Love is the most powerful emotion.

You can't measure the heart of a champion. Be satisfied with nothing but the best. Always do your very best for that's what really counts. The way a teams plays as a whole determines it's success.

First master the fundamentals. ~Larry Bird

If you pay attention to the grandstands---it won't be long before you join them.

Practice to beat the best.

Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best.

Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his/her role on the team.

Don't let what other people think decide who you are.

I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I dont't do things half-heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results.

You can't get much done in life if you only work on days when you feel good. ~Jerry West

You have to expect things of your self before you can do them.

A winner is someone who recognizes his/her God-given talents, works his/her tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his/her goal.

Don't Coach Mad.

Failure is good. It's fertilizer. Everything I've learned about coaching I've learned from making mistakes.

Those who work the hardest are the last to surrender.

Things to keep you from being complacent in order to be successful:

Today I will do what others won't so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can't.

Too many people are thinking the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, when they ought to just water the grass they are standing on.

99% of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.

Show me a person who doesn't make mistakes and I'll show you a person who doesn't do anything.

It's not what I ask of you, it's what you ask of yourself.

When life knocks you down, try to land on your back.  Because if you can look up, you can get up.

The best way to predict the future is to create it.

Strength doesn't come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't do.

"Jackson All-Stars benefitted me by showing me it's not all about myself, but about the whole team. We learned to depend on one another and play for one another. The program made each player better in their own way. It not only helped us with the skills of basketball, but with life as well. Despite the hardships we go through each season, it made us strong-minded. Nothing is given in life, you have to work through it. Each obstacle we overcame during basketball made each of us more confident because we knew that we were capable of more than what we thought. Coach Jackson showed us that by working hard you can achieve anything. At practices, he didn't just stress the importance of doing well for a game but he stressed the importance of becoming successful in life. We not only became good athletes, but we became good students and leaders. As you grow up after each season of the program you become more of a leader. You learn that there are many people within the program who look up to you. Everyone completes their season with the mindset that you not only have to work hard on the court but off the court, too. Go Jackson All-Stars!"
~Cindy Cano - Class of 2008 (Now coaching at the middle school level)

"Every time you compete, try harder to improve on your last performance. Give nothing short of your very best effort."
~Mekayla Dacpano - Class of 2011 (Attends Hartnell College and plays "The game I love!")

"Our family has enjoyed a three to four year relationship with the All-Stars. We have two teenage sons that play on the traveling basketball team and what excites us the most about Coach Jackson is his fairness, honesty, and coaching style. Every kid gets a fair shot on the team, you never ever worry about where the coach is coming from because he's a straight shooter and we've seen a visible improvement in our son's basketball play. As a coach myself, I know the marked advancement, in our son's play, is due to solid fundamental coaching paired with challenging competition. When you see the basketball drills he employs to better his player's skills and the top level competition his teams compete against it will amaze you. Without a doubt Jackson All-Stars is the best choice."
~The Harrigan Family

"The Jackson All-Stars is a great program. I chose to play for this program for four years because I enjoyed it. Every time I always looked forward to practice and tournaments because it was so much fun. The teams altogether were built into a second family, a strong bond that's created throughout the season. The All-Stars contain a great coaching staff that help you on and off the court. Playing for them helped me improve on my game. It made me mentally strong and confident on the court to help me strive for success. I became ambitious and was always willing to work hard. I was taught how to respect and stand up for myself and believe in what I want. It was the little things that made me a better person and athlete."
~Amy Woo - Class of 2011 (Attends and plays for Mission College)

"Hi...I'm Jordyn Enos a two year veteran of the Jackson All-Stars and looking forward to entering my 3rd summer with the team in 2012. Coach Jackson's program has helped me improve my game a lot! Here at Jackson's we are a big family and learn to treat not only our teammates and competition, but everyone with respect. If you want to improve your basketball skills, I encourage you to come and try out. If you LOVE the game and are willing to put in the hard work and push yourself to get better, trust me, you will see the results. Don't think we don't have fun because we do but, it's the hard work you put into it, that makes the game fun when we play. When you walk through the gym doors, you better be ready to go to work because like Coach Jackson tells us, he can teach us all the drills but if YOU don't have it inside you to put in the effort, you will always be average."
~Jordyn Enos - 8th grader (Attends WMS) - Look out Stanford, Here I come!

"When our daughter (Jordyn) was in 5th grade, she was good enough with her athletic ability alone, to play on an all boys basketball team. Another father who had his daughter go through the Jackson All-Stars program came up to my wife and I and explained what the program was all about and how the player development skills would help Jordyn improve her basketball skills. As it turns out, the word "help" was an understatement. Working with Coach Jackson and his staff during her 6th grade summer, she came into her 7th grade season with an incredible advantage over her competition. The fundamental basketball skills they teach are invaluable. Her ball handling skills, court vision movement, leadership and most importantly the teaching of the complete "TEAM First" concept, has been laid as a foundation for her. In just one summer, she had learned to become a dominant player in her age group. In her 7th grade summer with the Jackson All-Stars, Coach Jackson and his staff believed enough in her progress to play her on both the 7th and 8th grade teams. This is where Coach Jackson and his staff set themselves apart from others. If your son or daughter is willing to put in the work and they improve beyond their age skills, they will patiently, move your child up, to ensure their skills continue to climb. Never letting them get complacent, playing them against kids that won't challenge them to move their game to the next level. This experience for Jordyn instilled a fearless competitiveness in her 8th grade season. She is again playing at an extremely high level and can't wait for the summer to begin working with the Jackson All-Stars again!"
~Steve and Debbie Enos

"Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one's level of aspiration and expectation."
~Jack Nicklaus

"Today's practice must always be better than yesterday. If not, practice is pointless. You can stay the same or get better."
~Coach Darren Jackson

A Blessing in Time of Defeat and a Time to Put it Behind You
Lord, someone else has won the honor that we thought should be ours, bless them. Someone else is enjoying the rewards We expected, bless them. Help us to remember that there is enough fame to go around. Enough happiness. And if we have not found ours this time, there will be other opportunities. This time maybe we weren't ready. Next time we will be. Or the time after that. Purge us of resentment; heal us of malice; soothe our disappointment. Don't let us impede our own progress by such emotions. Instead, let us ask a blessing upon the one who has beat us. To do so is to strengthen us. To do so is to draw upon a new source of energy and courage and optimism. We will rise up from defeat with joy. We will go forward enriched by this experience, spiritually growing. And as we bless them, we pray you bless us as a team and as a family. Thank you for this knowledge.

In order to have a winner, the team must have a feeling of unity; every player must put the team first ahead of personal glory.

We cannot be separated in interest or divided in purpose. We stand together until the end.

Some say you have to use your five best players, but I found out you win with the five that fit together best.

Always put God first and you can't go wrong.

The most important word - We.The least important - I.

The vehicle of accomplishment is fueled by teamwork.

Basketball...my world...any questions?

When we are one, we are #1!

Committment = Loyalty. Hard Work = Success. Pride = Yourself.

Winners train...losers complain...which one are you?

Individuals win games...teams win championships!