Los Angeles Sparks select Rickea Jackson in first round of 2024 WNBA Draft

Rickea Jackson is off the board in the 2024 WNBA draft. The Los Angeles Sparks selected the former Tennessee star with the No. 4 pick in the first round.

Jackson led the SEC in scoring this past season, averaging 20.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, while leading Tennessee to a 20-13 (10-6) record.

She played five total seasons of college basketball and was a difference-maker all five years.

Rickea Jackson started her college career at Mississippi State, playing three seasons with the Bulldogs. She led Mississippi State in scoring all three years, including as a freshman when she put up 15.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

Jackson’s production dipped slightly to 14.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2020-21, before she bounced back with an incredible junior season, before entering the transfer portal.

During her final year at Mississippi State, Rickea Jackson led the SEC in scoring for the first time in her career, averaging 20.3 points and 6.8 rebounds. However, after 15 games that season, she decided to enter the portal.

Jackson spent the 2022-23 season at Tennessee and was a lethal scorer for the Vols. She averaged 19.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in only 28 minutes per night. She opted to use her COVID year and play in 2023-24 as she once again led the SEC in scoring.

Over the course of her college career, Rickea Jackson averaged 17.8 points per game across five seasons. She appeared in 127 games, making 106 starts.

Now she is off to the WNBA where she will look to continue to prove that she is one of the top scorers out there.

Andraya Carter: Rickea Jackson could ‘have space to operate’ in WNBA

Ahead of the WNBA draft, ESPN analyst Andraya Carter spoke about Rickea Jackson and her future at the next level.

Carter feels that the jump to the WNBA could help open Jackson’s game up some. She won’t necessarily have to be the No. 1 option on her team anymore, meaning she can also show off her ability to distribute. After all, she averaged a career-high 2.3 assists out of the post this past season.

“At times at Tennessee, she was the only option for the Lady Vols – to my angst, at times,” Carter said. “And for her to be on a professional floor with defensive three seconds and players around her where she can have space to operate, I can see her, again, hitting some of those tough shots and being aggressive in moments where she needs to.

“Rickea also has the ability to pass, whether it’s a skip pass or anything like that. I see Rickea, with her shot-making and thinking aggressive, making an impact on a team in the W. Tough shot-making translates, and you would think she’ll have a little more space to operate at the next level.”