We are less than 5 weeks away from the tip-off of the new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Iowa State SR G Arianna Jackson, who talked about being a great 3-PT shooter and her expectations for this season.
In high school you were a 3-time track and field state qualifier in 4 events (high jump/800-meter dash/4×400-meter relay/4×800-meter relay) and a 3-time state qualifier in cross country: how much of an advantage is your athleticism on the basketball court? It has helped me a lot. I started a summer track program when I was 4 years old, and my parents eventually became track coaches, so they originally thought that I would become a track athlete. It taught me to keep pushing myself when I am tired: that toughness/grit translates very well to the basketball court.
Your father Hez/brother Kendell played football at Iowa State, and your mom Cory went there for college: was it an easy decision to follow in their footsteps? It was always at the back of my mind: growing up I was a Cyclones fan and we would all go to football games. My dad played football for Dan McCarney, and I had a long conversation with Coach before I committed. I also talked to my older brother and realized that it was the right place for me.
You started 24 games as a freshman after senior captain Emily Ryan injured her leg: how much pressure was there on you to come in and contribute right from the start? We had a big freshman class, and I was trying to learn how to play PG for Coach Bill Fennelly, so it came with a lot of growing pains. He will push me to be my best but I understand it comes from a place of love, which is why our relationship has grown.
1 of the games that you came off the bench for was a 9-PT loss to Iowa: where does Caitlin Clark (35 PTS/9 REB/5 AST) rank among the greatest players that you have ever faced? She is up there: I also played against her in high school. I have faced several great players in Olivia Miles/Paige Bueckers/Azzi Fudd, all of whom have gone onto the WNBA. They will be good stories to tell 1 day, and they all challenged me to improve.
You graduated in the top 2% of your high school class, and you were named 2026 Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I take school very seriously. I am a perfectionist, so I do not like getting any B’s. Basketball takes up a lot of free time, so I use the resources available to me (like tutors) and take pride in my academics.
61 of your 63 FGM last year came from behind the arc, and your 43.9 3P% was top-10 in the nation: what is the key to making threes, and do your teammates freak out when they see you attempting a shot from inside the arc? A little bit! The AAU team I played for emphasized 3-PT shooting, so I have done that since I was a young player. I take a lot of reps so that when I get the ball it is like 2nd nature to shoot it.
You have played 5 NCAA tourney games over the past 3 years with each 1 decided by single digits: what is the secret to success in March when the games go down to the wire? A lot of it is about staying calm because that is what you have worked for all season long. The moment can feel very big and there can be a lot of drama, but focusing on the little things can make a big difference and turn the game around very quickly.
The Cyclones lost most of their team to the transfer portal last March: why did you decide to return for your senior season? It was never a question for me whether to come back: this is like a 2nd home for me, and I did not think I could find that support anywhere else. I am excited to step into more of a leadership role this year as we give it everything we got.
Most fans think that college athletes use their NIL money to buy themselves expensive things: why did you decide to use some of your NIL deals to help raise money for your high school? Part of it is the way I was raised: my parents always gave back rather than putting themselves 1st. When you have the resources to do that, it is important. My high school helped shape me into the person I am today, which is why I wanted to give back.
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? My goal is to become a leader who my teammates can count on. I want to make all the little plays and bring the crowd into the game more and help everyone around me grow. As a team we want to compete in the Big 12 and reach the postseason, so if we put in the work then I think we will surprise some people.
