Panther Duo Rated Possible Player of the Year Candidates
By Florida Tech // November 26, 2014
Corbin Jackson considered Division II top player
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Bennett Rank, a ranking algorithm and sports media site, recently released a list of five Sunshine State Conference players who are top candidates for this year’s SSC Player of the Year Award and Florida Tech is the only program to have two student-athletes make the list.
Redshirt junior forward Corbin Jackson and senior guard Jermaine Jackson were both selected as player of the year candidates following exemplary seasons a year ago and strong starts to the 2014-15 campaign.
The independent site holds a high opinion of Corbin Jackson, considering him one of the top players in all of Division II.
“Jackson returns as the reigning SSC Defensive Player of the Year,” said Bennett Rank.
“On that end, Jackson led the SSC and was ninth in the nation in rebounds per game with an average of 10.9 per contest — a total of 306 on the season. His 87 total blocks led the conference and he was fifth in the nation with 3.1 rejections per game. On the offensive end, Jackson averaged 14.6 points per game on a 53.8 field goal percentage, and was eighth in the nation with 17 double-doubles. Jackson might not only be the best player in the SSC, but the entire country as well.”
Bennett Rank contributors laud Jermaine Jackson’s scoring ability and believe that the Panther duo is not only the most lethal in the conference but also that they make FIT a real contender in the SSC.
“Jackson can score,” said Bennett Rank.
“The senior guard was second in the league in scoring last season after averaging 19.5 points per game and was first in field goals made (218). Jackson was efficient with his shots, posting a 48.3 percent field goal percentage. Of his 29 starts, Jackson scored in double figures in all but two of them, including fourteen 20-plus games. The Jackson combo could be the most dangerous duo in the SSC and could vault them to the top of the conference come season’s end.”
Corbin Jackson has started the season on a torrid pace, averaging 19.0 points and 11.5 rebounds a game, while also swatting five shots per contest. All three of those statistics lead the Panthers and rank amongst the top of the SSC.
Jermaine Jackson hasn’t been far off of Corbin’s scoring pace, netting 18.0 points per game and knocking down seven of his 16 attempts from behind the three-point arc.
Joining the FIT duo on Bennett Rank’s list are Florida Southern senior guard Kevin Capers, Barry junior guard Yunio Barrueta and Lynn senior guard Aaron Harrison.
The Panthers look to build off of their 4-0 start as FIT takes on the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon at the Clemente Center on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. The Panthers will then welcome Clark Atlanta, Clayton State and St. Augustine’s to Melbourne for the Florida Tech Thanksgiving Tournament, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29.
