Athlete – Basketball
Born July 5, 1978, Erica Denise Jackson is the daughter of the late Jackie Jackson, twin sister to the late Eric Jackson, younger sister to brother Keith Jackson, mother to Ramond and Ravion Jackson, and a grandmother to Raire Jackson.
Later regarded as one of the best point guards in the nation, Erica, affectionately nicknamed “E,” started her career playing point guard at Henry Clay High School in Lexington KY. Throughout her basketball career with the Blue Devils, Erica suffered two knee injuries, two surgeries, two scars and two seasons lost. Those were not the kinds of statistics Erica was looking to compile after earning All-City, All-Region and All-State basketball honors as a first-year point guard at Henry Clay. But this disaster has a happy conclusion, or in Erica’s view, a happy new beginning.
The 5-foot-6 senior was back in the lineup for Henry Clay, enjoying basketball again and flashing the talent that stamped her as a star of the future three years ago. She was averaging fourteen points and four assists for the Lady Devils and was selected to play in the prestigious Kentucky-Indiana All-Stars series for the top senior players from each state. After graduating in 1996, where she again earned All-City, All-Region and All-State honors, she packed her bags and headed south to Florida.
“E” shined in the Sunshine State. The Lexington native served as the point guard at Central Florida Community College for two seasons, averaging fourteen points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals per game. Her team’s record was an impressive 68-2 during her time at Central Florida. She earned first-team honors in both the All-Mid Florida Conference, All-State, and was a Junior College All-American.
Her performance in Florida drew interest from top schools, but she chose to stay close to home. “E” returned to Lexington to play for the University of Kentucky, giving the Wildcats added quickness around the perimeter both offensively and defensively while averaging 11 points a game.
So how was it for Jackson to play in front of her family and friends? She experienced a whole new sensation.
“Right before warm-ups, I had the butterflies for the first time ever,” Erica said. “It was extremely exciting, though, coming back to my hometown.”
And what about finally wearing The Big Blue?
“It was a dream come true,” Erica said.
After college, basketball was still in Erica’s blood. She coached at Jessie Clark Middle School from 2006 to 2010, and then coached at her old alma mater, Henry Clay, for the girls’ basketball team from 2010 through 2021. Presently, Erica is coaching at George Rogers Clark High School in Clark County. She helped lead her team to this year’s KHSAA Girls Sweet Sixteen Tournament, where they made it to the final but fell short of winning the finals.
