Commitment Announcement
USC Commit Ryder Jackson Is Uniquely Dressed For Success
by Rhiannon Potkey, 1 March 2018
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It’s easy to spot Ryder Jackson at tournaments. He’s the guy wearing the soccer jersey and visor with a 75-year-old retired firefighter serving as his entourage.
Jackson’s distinctive style turns heads everywhere he goes, but it’s his play on the court that really grabbed the attention of college coaches.
The blue chip junior from Nicasio, California went through an exhaustive recruiting process with visits to multiple schools before deciding to commit to USC.
“I wanted a good balance between really good academics and really good tennis, and USC stood out most of all,” Jackson said. “I visited a couple of times and I loved it there and I loved the guys on the team and the chemistry they had.”
Jackson will be the second generation of his family to play for USC head coach Peter Smith.
His father, Steve, played for Smith at Fresno State for two years in the early 1990s. They were only four years apart in age at the time.
“He kicked most of our butts. He was such a stud player and he was just fun to play for,” Steve Jackson said. “It was serious, but it was fun and we worked hard. We got along like a family and it was one of the best experiences of my life.”
Although Steve Jackson had great memories playing for Smith, he didn’t want his son feeling pressured to follow the same path.
“I didn’t want to push that I had played for him. I wanted Ryder to choose completely on his own after he went down there and got a feel for the school by himself,” said Steve Jackson, the head tennis pro at California Tennis Club. “It’s not about Peter and I sharing old stories. It’s about Ryder going where he felt he would be happy.”
