Reebok Top 25 Most Dynamic Athletes: Adoree' Jackson

There’s an accent at the end of Adoree' Jackson's first name for a reason.

The 5-foot-10, 182-pound football, basketball and track star does everything with a flair.

Not in the “hey, look at me” kind of way. Simply, if you enjoy watching sheer athletic prowess — and who doesn’t like that? — Jackson, an incoming senior at Serra (Gardena, Calif.), is your young man.

Blessed with sprinter speed, Bo Jackson power and tremendous hops, Jackson is mesmerizing to any sports fan.



“It’s impossible not to smile watching him,” Serra football coach Scott Altenberg told Tony Ciniglio of the Torrance Daily Breeze. “He's that much fun.”

See our special Adoree' Jackson photo gallery

Combine that with a high motor and competitive edge, and it’s no wonder Jackson is one of the most sought-after multi-sport athletes in the country.

He led the Cavaliers to state titles in football and track and a 26-win season in basketball. He’ll likely give up his first love of basketball to focus on track, but his impact on a renowned school that has featured such football stars as Robert Woods, Marqise Lee and George Farmer is immeasurable.

“I just try to give my all each and every day,” Jackson said. “It’s worked out pretty well thus far.”

That’s an understatement.



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Hometown: Gardena, Calif.

School: Serra High School (enrollment 700)

Sports: Football (cornerback, receiver, returner), basketball (guard), track and field (long jumper, sprinter).

College plans: Like his skills, Jackson’s college interests are varied and wide. Though USC and UCLA are schools right in his backyard and definitely in the hunt, he just took a trip to Tennessee and plans other visits (official or otherwise) to Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and his home state of Illinois, where he moved from after his freshman season.

He says wherever he goes will need to have a great track program as well.

He appears to be leaning toward either USC or the SEC, but even he isn’t sure yet. Very analytical, Jackson won’t make a fast or rash decision.



“I’ll know when the time is right,” Jackson said.

Favorite sport: Though his ticket to stardom is football and track, his favorite actually surprises people. “I’ve always loved basketball. It was my first love. I’ve been playing it since I was 4.”

Personal credo: “I want to out-do myself every single day,” he said.

CoachSpeak 1: “He’s a highlight film. … The best thing I can say about him is that he has the absolute most joy of playing football as much as any kid. … It’s almost like it’s recess in grade school and he’s out there running around, having the best time.”
- Football coach Scott Altenberg to Tony Ciniglio of the Torrance Daily Breeze

CoachSpeak II: “He’s definitely someone athletically on par with Robert Woods or Marqise Lee, not only from an athletic standpoint but from his demeanor. He’s not cocky or someone seeking attention with his words. He demands them through his actions.”
- Track and field coach Lori Smith-Thompson
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He is ranked the 24th-best recruit in the nation overall by 247Sports and No. 3 cornerback.

But he is so much more to Serra.

Oh sure, he had five interceptions last season — and defense is definitely his ticket to college — but it was his dazzling play on offense that keyed Serra’s state-championship season.



When star running back Anterio Bateman went down with a season-ending injury at midseason, Jackson picked up his offensive game with 33 catches for 546 yards and five touchdowns.

When he carried the ball, he was even more explosive with seven carries for 175 yards and five more scores. He had three catches for 82 yards and two scores in the state title game, a 42-15 win over Oakdale, but it was his 78-yard TD jaunt off a fake punt on a fourth-and-31 call that will have people around California talking for years.

“That was sort of crazy. That even surprised me a little," said Jackson, who also scored an acrobatic touchdown on a screen pass.

By the end of the season, he surprised few on the Serra sideline. He was a second team Junior All-American.

“Honestly,” Attenberg said, "he looked sort of unstoppable at times.”
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He could have pouted. He could have sulked. Instead, Jackson kept focus of a bigger prize and he more than got even.

The defending state champion and national leader in the long jump was edged in his specialty at the California State championships. Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) junior Nate Moore jumped 24 feet, 11.75 inches to Jackson’s 24-7.25.



Jackson was disappointed, but on the podium, he patted Moore on the back and congratulated him. Jackson had bigger fish to fry.

He ran two tremendous legs in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays to lead the Cavaliers to winning marks of 40.49 seconds and 3:10.59, respectively. The 4x400 time was the best in the nation for 2013 and the 4x100 was second-best.

Those two wins plus Jackson’s second-place finish carried Serra to the team title, its second in school history. The year before, Jackson won the long jump at 25-0 but his team sustained a bitter two-point loss.

Jackson, considered a true team player, preferred the 2013 result to 2012 even though he didn’t receive a personal gold.

“This was about the team and we left it all on the track,” he said. “We made a statement and left everyone feeling good.”

Jackson said his goal is to improve his personal best in the long jump to 26-0 by next year. With his speed — his best marks in the 100 and 200 were 10.68 and 21.59 — and vertical lift, no one would bet against him.



He’ll likely give up basketball to focus on track, though he was a big contributor to the basketball team’s 26-7 mark.

The Cavaliers are always in the state-title hunt. Seemingly, in all sports.

Smith-Thompson believes Jackson’s potential is limitless, especially with more track and field training.

“He’s just a great kid to coach in all regards,” he said.
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