Editor’s Note: Throughout the year, we will meet with athletes and coaches on campus for Q-and-A sessions. To nominate a Seahawk to be interviewed, email [email protected].

The Seahawk sat down with UNC Wilmington freshman men’s basketball player Freddie Jackson, who was a local standout at New Hanover High School last year. He had his share of recruitment offers, but decided to keep his talents in his hometown.

The Seahawk: What made you decide to stay in Wilmington?

Freddie Jackson: I’ve always loved Wilmington, and it’s always been a dream of mine to play in front of my hometown.

TS: How has playing in front of your hometown crowd been so far?

FJ: It’s been really good. I have a big crowd that comes to watch me. It feels kind of like high school again (laughs).

TS: What other schools did you get looks from?

FJ: Some other schools I got looks from were VCU, ECU, Wake Forest, College of Charleston and a few others that I can’t remember. There were a lot of them.

TS: Why would you turn down a chance to play for VCU, which was a Final Four team last year?

FJ: I visited VCU, and I liked UNCW better. Also, at the time they hadn’t been to the (NCAA) Tournament yet. After they made it the Final Four, I was kind of kicking myself (laughs). I just felt like UNCW was the best fit for me.

TS: In high school you were the man. How has your transition been from being the go-to scorer to more of a point guard role?

FJ: It feels the same, just trying to get wins. But now I don’t have to do as much, because I’m surrounded by much more talent.

TS: What was your favorite memory from playing high school basketball?

FJ: Definitely Senior Night—we beat rival Hoggard High School. I think I had around 20 points.

TS: How have you improved from your senior year of high school?

FJ: I guess growing a little bit more knowledge about the game, because college is a different game. I mean its still basketball of course, but it requires much more of a thinking process. Everybody’s got talent, but now it really matters how good you are mentally.

TS: Do you think that college basketball is a faster game?

FJ: Yeah, definitely. There is a shot clock and we didn’t have that in high school, so it changes the pace a little bit.

TS: Do you know what you’re going to major in yet?

FJ: As of right now, I’m going to be majoring in physical education.

TS: How was it playing your first college game against Maryland, a big-time ACC school?

FJ: It was all right; everyone was pretty jittery, but it was a good experience overall playing against ACC competition and playing in front of a big-time crowd like that.

TS: How did it feel to score your first college basket? I bet it felt awesome.

FJ: Yeah, it did feel awesome. But, at the time it didn’t feel like much because I was in the course of the game, but it did feel good to get the first college basket and the first college game out of the way.

TS: Do you and your teammates hang out outside of basketball?

FJ: Yeah, we do. We normally play a little Call of Duty MW3 or some Halo. Or we go get food and go hang out in the other players’ apartments. We just do the normal stuff.

TS: How’s Coach Peterson off of the court?

FJ: He’s a cool guy. We go to his house and hang out sometimes, or go to Cookout or something like that (laughs).

TS: What are your goals for the team this season?

FJ: To get the program back to where it used to be. People doubt us because we’re so young, but we want to win the CAA championship this season, and we feel that we can.

TS: I know it’s early, but what do you want to do with basketball after you graduate?

FJ: I want to go wherever basketball takes me.