Destiny Jackson: Rice’s Leader Taking One Last Flight

HOUSTON – If you have been following Rice women's basketball for the last couple of years, you might have noticed several changes: new athletes, new coaching staff, and a new court. One thing that has been consistent these last five years, Destiny Jackson leading the Owls.

In her fifth season with Rice, Jackson has had a career that forever etched her name in the record books. However, just like the saying goes, 'all good things must come to an end,' and with the games dwindling down for Rice, Jackson's time on the court is nearing its end.

Prior to being an Owl, Jackson was leading Mansfield Timberview High School to two state finals, being named to the 2018 UIL All-Tournament Team in her final season. The decision to head south to Houston was an easy one.

"I committed to Rice because of what it offered me both athletically with the powerhouse Coach [Tina] Langley had established and academically with Rice being such a prestigious and beautiful institution in itself," Jackson said. "I could see myself being at Rice, and look at me now, a Rice graduate."

One regular season conference title and a WNIT championship later, Jackson and Owls were continuing that powerhouse legacy. However, during the offseason of Jackson's sophomore year, Langley departed the program for the University of Washington, leaving Jackson unsure of what the future of Rice women's basketball would be.

"I was saddened to see Coach Langley leave since she was the one who recruited me to come to Rice," Jackson said. "But, I understood the opportunity she had been given, and I wish her the best."

Enter current head coach Lindsay Edmonds, where after the first couple of interactions, Jackson knew she had a head coach who would be able to elevate her game.

"From my first interactions with Coach Edmonds, I could tell she wanted to continue the legacy of Rice women's basketball," Jackson said. "Change with anything in life can be challenging, but since she has taken over the women's program, I feel grateful to her as our coach."

Edmonds knew firsthand about Jackson's experience, having also gone through a coaching change between her freshman and sophomore years as a player at Appalachian State.

"My first interactions with DJ were all short and sweet. They were all good, but I knew there was more to her. I knew we had to get to know one another more before the relationship would really start," Edmonds said. "Changing head coaches in the middle of your college career is hard, I knew that first hand because it happened to me as well in college. I shared that experience with her so she knew her feelings were valid and that I understood exactly how she may have been feeling. My goal was to show her my heart and that I cared about her as a person first and prove to her that she could trust me. Once that was established, it has been completely different."

After working with Jackson during the offseason and throughout the first few games in her junior season, it was very clear that DJ was gaining the confidence to be the leader of Rice.

"DJ's ability to lead has stemmed from her gaining confidence in herself and her game. When we first got here she wasn't looking to be aggressive, she wasn't looking to score, she was always just thinking about running the show, which is great but I knew she was capable of so much more," Edmonds said. "I think my staff and I have poured into her from the moment we stepped foot onto campus about how special she was and how much this team and program needed her to take those next steps. Once DJ started taking those steps added on top of how hard she goes every rep in practice, she has become an unanimously voted captain by her teammates each year. Her teammates trust her, they look to her in all the big moments and they celebrate her."

After all athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic were granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA, returning for a fifth season with Rice was an easy decision for Jackson.

"I already knew I was going to stay, and when I told Coach Edmonds in my end of the season meeting she was ecstatic," Jackson said.

"When I first got here I had conversations with every player about what their plans were, when would they graduate and would they use their COVID year. Initially, DJ seemed very unsure if that was something she wanted to do or even wanted to talk about," Edmonds said. "I remember in January of our first season, I called her in for a meeting to have another discussion about her COVID year, but this time I led with I really have enjoyed coaching you this year, I think your ceiling is so high, I want you leading this program for three years and would love it if you would use your COVID year here. She right away said she would love to and I immediately screamed for joy and threw a party in my office."

Leading the Owls is precisely what Jackson has done. She has been one of the top scorers, rebounders and the assists leader for Edmonds each season. When her teammates need one play to spark the team, Jackson is there to deliver.

"Aside from believing in myself and my capabilities, I think everybody in this program, from Coach Edmonds and the assistant coaches to my teammates, have faith in me to lead, especially when my belief in myself wavered at times," Jackson said. "It's really important to have a strong support system and all of them were consistently there for me and are encouraging me."

Now three years in Coach Edmonds' system, the two are in complete sync.

"To be able to have continuity is everything, especially from a PG standpoint. The PG is the extension of myself on the court. DJ knows exactly what I want and what I expect without me even saying it now," Edmonds said. "We used to talk in her first two years during free throws about what plays I wanted to run and what to look for, now she is coming up to me saying, 'what about this play or what about running a play for a certain player,' and oftentimes it's one that I am thinking about in my head already. To have that relationship with your PG is special. I trust and believe in her, and she has my back on and off the court."

Jackson's unique understanding of the game often leads to the team looking to DJ during games, practices and even off the court.

"It means a lot to me because it reveals just how big of an impact I have been to them," Jackson said. "They tell me often, and that alone really hits deep because who I am as a leader inspires them."

Earlier in the season at South Florida, not only did Jackson help lead the Owls to the win, but she became the 25th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points. She currently sits 17th all-time in scoring at Rice.

"It means a lot considering I'm typically a pass-first PG, who would rather set others up than score myself. But, I am so thankful for what my coaches and teammates have done for me," Jackson said. "To allow me to be in this position is truly a blessing, and I am very grateful for them. Especially since I'm just the 25th athlete in program history, that speaks volumes about this basketball team."

Also, during the season, Jackson became the all-time games played leader at Rice.

"When I was told I played the most games, I was surprised because I didn't realize just how many games I have played at Rice," Jackson said. "I was proud but also thought to myself, 'Wow, I'm really old.' But honestly, I'm just glad that I am leaving my mark on Rice athletics.

Her endless milestones only reflect on her continued hard work she has shown both on and off the court.

"DJ deserves everything she has accomplished and all the recognition she has received for the milestones she has reached. She is such a humble, wonderful person who cares deeply for this program and one of the hardest workers I have ever coached," Edmonds said. "In today's transfer portal society, it's rare to find players that stay all five years in one place but I am so grateful that DJ did and wow what an imprint she is leaving on this program. Her endless work on the court and constantly watching film to grow her game is paying off in big ways. I just hope we can keep the wins going so that she can continue to add to her stats. It is truly amazing to see her growth over the last three years. I am a proud coach."

As Rice prepares to battle North Texas on Senior Day, Jackson will be taking in the home crowd one last time.

"To be honest, the emotions haven't hit me yet, but I can imagine it hitting me on game day," Jackson said. "It'll be a very surreal feeling considering I've seen Autry Court go through some renovations over the years. I'll try to hide my emotions then but Saturday will be one to remember for me. It'll be one for the books."

An emotional day for not only Jackson but for Coach Edmonds as well.

"Whew, I don't really like to think about basketball without DJ, much less talk about it. There are definitely a lot of emotions, sad thinking about her career at Rice being over, excited for the opportunity to send her out on a high note for what could be her last game on Autry Court, and grateful that I have had the blessing of being able to be her coach for three years and to get to know her off the court for a lifelong relationship," Edmonds said. "DJ has been a constant since I have been here, and I know things will be very different once she is gone. I say it often but DJ truly is the heart and soul of this team, we go as DJ goes and once she is gone we will have a big hole to fill. While Saturday could be the last time in Tudor Fieldhouse, I am just hoping that we have a lot of basketball left ahead of us so that we can all continue to play together with DJ leading the charge no matter the location."

Regardless of the final results in these last games of her career, Jackson knows that she will forever be part of the Rice family.

"This family means the world to me, and I will always cherish the times we've spent together both on and off the court. This is a very special group, and I love and appreciate them each and every day," Jackson said. "As for Rice, I am so thankful and blessed to have such a rare opportunity to attend the Ivy League of the South. All of my professors, my O-Week buddies, and the memories I have built during my five years here have been so impactful on my life. I am forever grateful for being a Rice Owl, and I always will be."

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