Floretta Jackson (1998) - JMU Athletics Hall of Fame - James Madison University Athletics

Floretta Jackson

Induction:
1998
Class:
1987

Point guard Floretta Jackson guided the Dukes to Top 20 national ranking, two Colonial Athletic Association championships and two trips to the NCAA "Sweet 16" as she helped put the Dukes' basketball program on the map.

The Dukes compiled a 90-30 record during Jackson's four seasons, rising from a 13-15 record her freshman year (1984) to a 22-7 record her sophomore season (1985). JMU broke into the Associated Press Top 20 the following season, in which the Dukes won the 1986 CAA title and received its first NCAA Tournament invitation. JMU upset regionally top-ranked Virginia in the NCAA second round to advance to the round of 16 and finished the year with a 28-4 record, setting a school record for wins. In 1987 the Dukes rose to a program-high 12th in the AP poll, won a second CAA championship and again advanced to the NCAA round of 16 before falling to top-ranked and defending national champion Texas.

Jackson was co-captain of the 1985 U.S. Junior National Team that placed fifth in the FIBA World Championships and was co-captain of the silver-medalist East Team at the 1985 U.S. Olympic Festival. She was named a preseason All-America by the Women's Basketball News Service (1986) and was twice named an American Women Sports Federation All-America (1986, 1987).

A two-time CAA first team selection (1986, 1987), Jackson was named to the CAA's All-Decade Team (1985-95). She was a CAA All-Tournament Team and All-Defensive Team member in 1987 and was twice named to the American Women's Sports Federation All-Mideast Region Team (1986, 1987).

JMU's career assist leader with 560, Jackson also holds the Dukes' season assist record of 173. She ranks second on the career steals list with 235. Jackson scored 1,111 career points and averaged 9.3 points per game for her career.