ESP – Jackson glad to be playing the game he loves

MADRID (ACB) – This has been a season to remember for former Duquesne star Aaron Jackson.
 
The 24-year-old is playing big minutes for Bizkaia Bilbao Basket in the Spanish ACB, a league he believes to be second only to the NBA.
 
Jackson, who was in Turkey’s top flight last season with Antalya before switching to Virtus Bologna in Italy, is averaging 24 minutes per game for a Bilbao team that is led by Greek coach Fotis Katsikaris.
 
On Friday night, he will appear in the biggest contest of his professional career when he runs onto the floor to face Caja Laboral in the Copa del Rey.
 
“It's going good,” Jackson said, when asked by FIBA.com about his season in Spain.
 
“There are ups and downs, but we have a real good team so it's exciting.
 
"It's a real tough league, but I'm exciting to be playing in it. It's my first year here, I'm learning and every game we play is hard.
 
"I'm just glad to be at this level.”
 
Jackson has been through ups and downs in his life, too.
 
While a student athlete in 2006 at Duquesne, where he had a terrific collegiate career, Jackson and four other teammates were shot while attending a school dance by two non-students.
 
Jackson had a grazing wound to the back of his left hand and was treated at a hospital and quickly released.
 
Teammate Sam Ashaolu was much worse off.
 
He received multiple gunshots to the head but miraculously survived and has recovered, though the violent incident brought an end to his playing career.
 
Ashaolu, who went on to graduate with a liberal arts degree, has served as a source of inspiration for everyone that knows him.
 
Jackson once said of his good friend: "It makes you want to pray to God -- 'Thank you for giving this man another chance and everyone another chance.'"
 
Enjoying Europe
 
Jackson went from Pittsburgh, where he played for Duquesne, to Europe.
 
Life has turned out to be pretty good for him on the old continent.
 
Some American players find the adjustment to Europe tough because they’re away from friends, but not Jackson, who keeps in regular contact with his friends and family.
 
"It's fun, being away from home, playing basketball and getting paid for it,” he said.
 
How does he keep in touch with his buddies?
 
"By Twitter, facebook, by blackberry," he said, grinning.
 
For those interested in following Jackson, his Twitter name is @AaronfingJ.
 
Jackson says there is always plenty to do in Spain.
 
"Sometimes we'll get a day off,” he said.
 
“I have friends coming over from America. I've been able to visit Barcelona and other places, to tour around.”
 
In the city where he lives, there is the world famous Bilbao Guggenheim Museum.
 
Jackson is keenly aware of another big attraction in the city.
 
"Bilbao has a really good football team,” he said.
 
“It’s Athletic Bilbao and is made up of only Basque players.
 
“The level of support is amazing because they're sold out almost every game."
 
There should not be any empty seats in Madrid on Friday, when Jackson faces his stiffest test of the season.
 
He will go up against Caja Laboral’s Marcelo Huertas.
 
Asked on Twitter what he thought about facing the Brazil international, who pulled the strings for Caja Laboral in their title-winning campaign in the ACB last season, Jackson tweeted: “yessir i cant wait for this match up.”
 
FIBA