Rickea Jackson, a dynamic force in college basketball, has made a profound impact as a player for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Before joining Tennessee, she showcased her talents at Mississippi State, setting the stage for a remarkable collegiate career. Born on March 16, 2001, Jackson’s basketball journey began at Detroit Edison Public School Academy in Michigan, where she led her team to three Class C state titles and left as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,771 points. Her high school success, including being named Michigan Miss Basketball and a two-time Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year, underscored her potential early on.

At Mississippi State, Jackson hit the ground running, scoring a freshman season-high 34 points against Auburn and earning second-team All-SEC and All-Freshman honors. Her sophomore year continued to build on this success, and by her junior season, she was leading the SEC with an average of 20.3 points per game. Jackson’s transfer to Tennessee saw her set the SEC tournament single-game scoring record with 34 points against Kentucky. In her senior year, she maintained impressive averages of 19.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, earning first-team All-SEC honors. Despite being a projected first-round pick for the WNBA, she opted for a fifth season at Tennessee, utilizing the eligibility extension offered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.