Head basketball coach Ed DeChellis announced Wednes-day the signing of Monessen, Penn., native A.J. Jackson to a national letter of intent with the East Tennessee State University men’s team.
Jackson, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound power forward, averaged 19 points and 13 rebounds a game as a junior at Monessen. He was an all-district, all-area and all-Western Pennsylvania pick last season, and he has helped lead his team to back-to-back WPIAL Class A state titles.
“We are very excited about A.J. choosing to join our basketball family here at East Tennessee State,” DeChellis said, whose team has won two-straight Southern Conference North Division titles. “A.J. comes from a good high school program where his high school coach Joe Salvino has done an outstanding job. “
Jackson has collected 1,193 points and enters his senior year just 318 points shy of the school scoring record. He is only the third player to be a four-year starter for Monessen under Salvino, and he played summer AAU basketball for the Pittsburgh Shockers, averaging nine points and 10 rebounds.
DeChellis said Jackson’s versatility made him a valuable recruit.
“He’s a long player with a good build who can shoot the ball well from 3-point range,” DeChellis said. “He has the ability to play both wing and the post position.”
ETSU opens its regular season Friday against Guilford at the Memorial Center at 7:30 p.m.

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