Tyrese Perkins, Assistant Sports Editor
First-year guard Sammy Jackson is stepping into a new chapter at VCU. Wearing the black and gold may feel like a fresh start, but producing at a high level on the court is second nature.
Ranked No. 86 on the 2026 SportCenter Next 100, the 6-foot-7 prospect comes to VCU with a unique blend of size and skill at the guard position.
While many know Jackson from his time playing at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, his basketball journey began much earlier.
“I actually didn’t grow up in Philadelphia,” Jackson said. “I grew up in Tampa, Florida and then we moved to Philly when I was 12.”
Jackson said his early childhood in Tampa contributed to the lasting presence basketball has had within his life.
“We had a full-court [basketball court] in the backyard,” Jackson said. “My dad used to play in the NBA and my brothers play basketball too, so basketball has always been around me. But one day I picked up a basketball and really worked out for the first time with my dad, and then I knew that I wanted to do this for real.”
Jackson said the realization went beyond following in his father’s footsteps.
“I’d say it was really just me finding love for the game,” Jackson said. “Seeing what basketball can do for you is crazy…It’s a job that people have a lot of fun doing. It’s not like a job people would dread. You get to play basketball professionally and make a lot of money doing that.”
Reaching the professional ranks requires mastering the daily grind, and Jackson has quickly adapted to the demanding routine of a Division I student-athlete.
“A typical day starts early with classes ending around 11:00 a.m., followed by treatment,” Jackson said. “I either workout before or after class, then team weightlifting, and immediately after, practice starts. Afterward, I spend time studying with our academic advisors, and conclude my day with additional treatment.”
Jackson said he narrowed his final four choices down to Indiana University, VCU, The University of Texas at Austin, and Saint Joseph’s University, before choosing the Rams.
“I love the way they play,” Jackson said. “They play so fast, up-tempo, and they put a big emphasis on defense. That’s one thing I feel like hasn’t been my strongest suit throughout my high school career, but I know they’re going to push me every day… they’re going to make sure I’m not being lazy on defense.”
Jackson’s decision was also shaped by a deep sense of trust with the coaching staff, including head coach Phil Martelli Jr. and assistant coach Jimmy Martelli, both of whom have strong Philadelphia ties and have followed his development for years.
Martelli Jr. emphasized that Jackson’s feel for the game is natural.
“He’s got an offensive understanding of the game that’s well beyond his years,” Martelli Jr. said. “Plus his ability to pass and make others better… you can tell he loves the game of basketball.”
Jackson’s natural feel for the game stems from a career spent seeing the floor from every angle. His versatile frame has allowed him to play a multitude of positions over the years, but his core identity has always been in the backcourt.
“Ever since I was a kid playing AAU, I always played point guard,” Jackson said.
The Rams have embraced that instinct, and Martelli Jr. sees Jackson’s size at the guard spot as a distinct advantage in the Atlantic 10.
“He’s learning to play against smaller guards when they get up underneath him, but his ability to see the floor at that size really helps,” Martelli Jr. said. “There are passes that he can make that smaller guards can’t make, because one, they can’t see it, and two, they can’t get it over the defense.”
Jackson’s goals for his freshman campaign are very ambitious: an A-10 championship, a deep run in March Madness, and he has his sights set on winning A-10 Rookie of the Year.
“Having an A-10 Rookie of the Year without an A-10 championship just wouldn’t feel right,” Jackson said.
Off the court, Jackson enjoys fishing, playing golf, meeting new people, and traveling. He has visited Greece, Paris and Barcelona, with Morocco holding a special place in his heart.
He models his play-style after versatile, high-IQ playmakers, such as Luka Dončić, Cade Cunningham, Deni Avdija and Kyle Anderson.
VCU’s basketball team is growing in confidence as the 2026 season approaches and fans are excited to see the development of Jackson and a Rams squad that lives by the motto “win with us or watch us win.”