His teammates recognize that Justin Watts is the owner of what they're all chasing in 2012.
PREP
The Western North Carolina Player of the Year in 2011 by the Asheville Citizen-Times • Associated Press all-state selection in 2011 • Played for Coach Jimmy Cleaveland • Set the North Carolina high school record for career rebounds with 1,554 and was the leading scorer in Smoky Mountain High School history with 1,916 points • Averaged 25.4 points and 16.9 rebounds per game as a senior • Two-year team captain • Led Smoky Mountain to a 26-1 record and conference title • Shot 89 percent from the free throw line • Earned MVP honors with 19 points and 15 rebounds in the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game • Also played in the Jordan Brand Classic in Charlotte • Averaged 19.9 points and 12.5 rebounds as a junior.
PERSONAL
Son of Si and Cindi Simmons, both of whom teach at Smoky Mountain High • Both parents played basketball at Western Carolina University and Cindi is a member of the WCU Athletic Hall of Fame • Cindi also is a four-time state championship coach in both volleyball and basketball • Jackson had a grade point average of 4.2 and was a member of the National Honor Society • A member of the show choir that won three national championships • Took part in the school play in 2010-11 • Has yet to declare a major.
