14-year-old Delaware Valley 8th grader Jackson Shafer from Milford loves playing basketball. The Warriors varsity head coach Kris Holtzer has been involved with the NBA's fit and Jr. NBA programs for several years. So in May-Holtzer held a local skills challenge where Jackson participated and finished first qualifying him for the DC regionals at Hoops Plus in Springfield Virginia.
"I kind of expected to win the local competition, but the regional competition I wasn't really sure about, and then when I got there I was one of the best players there and I ended up winning," said Jackson.
At regionals in a group of 30 kids Jackson Shafer hit for 36 points in 1 minute and took home the title.
"He scored 36 down in DC and we thought it would be a really good score. He found out he's got two other really good guys to beat in the nationals and say he's a national champion. I'm really excited for him and happy for him," said Kris.
The next step to the national championship in the 13 and 14-year-old division takes place in NYC at Basketball City near the Piers June 22, 23 and 24th. Jackson will compete and head to the Barclay's Center for a meet and greet with NBA greats during the 2016 NBA draft.
"It will be one of my first trips to New York City and that will be cool, and then I am really excited to go to the NBA draft and we also get to play with a bunch of draftees and stuff so," again said Jackson.
"He's getting to go to New York City. He's getting sneakers. He's getting clothes. He's getting to hang out with the guys that are going to get drafted on draft night. How many people can say that," again said Kris.
We'll when Jackson heads to New York City for the Junior NBA skills challenge national championship he'll be there with Coach Holtzer and there will be two other regional qualifiers they're competing against Jackson, so he has a one in three chance to bring home a national championship to Delaware Valley high school.
"Even putting in a lot of work it's still a lot of fun which is why I still love basketball. I'm just going to try to ride it and see how far it takes me," added Jackson.
