UNADILLA VALLEY – Jackson earns this honor, at an impressively young age, as he is just freshman.

Jackson a three-sport athlete, playing Soccer, Basketball and Baseball, did suffer a major setback in his high school sports career before he was even in high school.

Last season while on junior varsity, Jackson recalled how he had torn his ACL, forcing him into a very risky surgery and rehab situation for an individual who at the time was still in eighth grade.

“It was last year 2015, on Jan. 15, a game against Hancock when I was on J.V. It was just a routine steal, but I let up early and came down wrong on it,” said Jackson.

This shed some doubt on his availability for upcoming seasons.

“He has been working hard to get back from that ACL injury. Went out to Boston to get that surgery done. He has figured out how to get comfortable and get some confidence in his repaired leg,” said Andrew’s father John Jackson.

With the ACL all healed, and the season as well as continuous rehab to ensure no more mishaps on the court Andrew has taken a liking to his current squad.

“I was really struggling building my confidence back and struggling to find my way in the roster, I was playing with all these seniors, so I had to prove myself. They really accepted me and I fit right in with all the guys, things have just fallen together,” said Jackson.

Andrew earns The Evening Sun Athlete of the week award for his high level of play, especially at such a young age and coming off an injury. Andrew has strung together games in Waterville, Harpursville and Afton, all double digits. Against Harpursville Jackson netted 19 and another 21 came against Waterville.

“He plays great defense, he is more than just scoring, he has a great sense for the game, and he is a great rebounder. He looks to play with the team that he has, and they took him under their wing,” further said Andrew’s father John.

It should be noted that despite being younger than most of his team, he has played with this group of seniors as well others back on junior varsity, which Andrew played as a seventh grader and eighth grader.

"Andrew is a freshman, a first year varsity player, and starter. He is averaging 10-points a game, 5-assists, 6-steals, and 6-rebounds. He's a hard worker in practice and has a great basketball mind,” said Unadilla Valley’s boy’s basketball head coach Matt Osborne.