Ian Jackson vows to live up to lofty St. John’s expectations

Ian Jackson admits he has not played like himself through two exhibition games.

Not aggressive enough, not forceful enough, and not the player St. John’s and its fans should get accustomed to seeing.

He will be better, The Bronx native promised.

“The main thing is just be Ian Jackson. In the two exhibitions, I got away from being who I am. Ian Jackson will be Ian Jackson, and that’s who I’m going to be for the rest of the season,” Jackson, the former top 10 high school prospect and North Carolina transfer, said on Monday during a meet and greet with fans at an Applebee’s in Fresh Meadows, Queens, near campus. “It’s a confidence thing. I felt I played a little bit timid. I was just out there, I didn’t impact the game as much as I wanted to. It just wasn’t me.”

One of his closest friends on the team, co-captain Sadiku Ibine Ayo, has seen this before.

It reminds him of Kadary Richmond’s transition last year. It took Richmond time to adjust to his new surroundings as well.

“It’s the same. New York kid, coming back to New York, and just trying to do good. It’s going to take time,” Ibine Ayo said. “It’s human nature, everyone is trying to do good as soon as it starts. I preached to Kadary last year, just keep going, just show up every day and everything is going to be fine. On Sunday morning, I told [Jackson] the same thing, just stay the course.”

The 6-foot-5 Jackson’s decision to come home made headlines, because he was such a big star at Cardinal Hayes High School.

At the event on Monday, he was swarmed by fans looking for autographs and pictures. There are expectations for him to produce. Jackson was considered one of the premier talents to enter the transfer portal.

“Pressure for me is nonexistent. I put in a lot of hours in the gym, I work on my game,” he said. “Pressure is just a word to me. I know what I can do out there, my teammates know what I can do, my coaches know what I can do. It’s a matter of getting a little rust off and figuring it out.”

Returning star Zuby Ejiofor doesn’t seem concerned.

Jackson has looked fine to him in practice. Coach Rick Pitino has raved about his improvement since the summer and the extra time he has put in working on his weaknesses.

It’s just a matter of it translating to the games.

After the overtime loss to Michigan, in which Jackson shot only 1-of-8 from the field, Pitino had similar comments. Jackson also had an ankle injury and missed three practices ahead of the Michigan game.

He didn’t want to use that as an excuse, though.

“It’s more about everything, more rebounding, guarding the ball, doing everything with more confidence and swagger that I usually have,” Jackson said. “I’m still me, I’m ready to get going, ready to start playing.

“Monday,” he added, “I’ll be ready.”