Team player Jackson sees Canada's ceiling roofless

HERAKLION (2015 FIBA U19 World Championship) - Justin Jackson made his mark on the global scene for the first time three summers ago as a 15-year-old at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship. Now the forward is helping lead a Canada team with a legitimate chance of reaching the podium at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship. 

Canada have played so well together - collecting four straight victories with an average winning margin of 30 points - that they have a great chance to make history. The North Americans have never reached the Semi-Finals of the U19 Worlds with five finishes between sixth and eighth places, including sixth placed two summers ago in Prague. 

Standing in Canada's way in the 2015 Quarter-Finals in Heraklion will be Croatia, who themselves have not won at the Final Eight stage in the last two editions after taking third place in 2009. 

If we play to the best of our abilities then I don't think there is a team who can stop us. - Jackson

"We're a great team, we have great team dynamics and we play well together," Jackson said.

"As a team, we are playing terrific right now. Everything is coming together. We keep getting better. I feel that our ceiling is roofless, we don't have one." 

The 1997-born East York native has once again showcased his all-around skill set to the tune of 15.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 blocks in three games. 

Jackson also received some lofty praise from his Canada teammate Dillon Brooks.

"He's kinda like a Magic Johnson. He can do everything. He can dribble, he can bring up the ball, he can go to the rim. He can rebound and play defense because he's so long. He's just a key part of our offense and our plays. He's a great player, he's going to go far in this game," he said.

Jackson and Brooks were teammates at the United States high school Findlay Prep.

"He's one of the veterans on the team, like me and [Christopher] Egi. He's been all over the world. He's played with me at Findlay Prep. He knows the game a lot. He knows the ropes," Brooks added about his Canadian running mate.

Jackson himself shied away from the Magic Johnson comparison. 

"It's really an honour. I wouldn't compare myself to a legend. That's just crazy. But it's an honour when people see flashes of him in my game. It’s really just an honour," Jackson said.

The 2.01m forward himself believes his passing skills are his past asset. 

"I really think I don't do anything one thing well. I would say I'm a great passer, but I just don't think I do one thing well. I do a lot of things good.  I'm a very versatile player, so I can do a little bit of everything."

Jackson admitted that the people in his inner circle do get on him about one aspect in his game.

"Sometimes they say I am a bit too passive on the court. They want me to be assertive at all times. Even if it's not scoring - but rebounding, making that extra pass, that assist, just doing a bit of everything."

More assertiveness from Jackson might just be the final component Canada need to make history.

FIBA