David Jackson, Jr.

First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to play basketball for Wilson High School. Being a part of the Wilson community was truly a gift, and looking back, I realize just how meaningful those years were in shaping the person I am today.

It is a great honor to be recognized and inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League Hall of Fame, and I accept this recognition with a grateful heart and tremendous humility. I would also like to pay tribute to two individuals who made a lasting impact on my journey: “Fluffy” Combs and Tyrone Manlove.

Fluffy was a great mentor, and Tyrone was a great teammate. I learned tremendously from both of them, not only about the game of basketball but also about the importance of leadership, commitment, and carrying yourself with pride. Their influence helped shape my experience, and I will always be grateful for the lessons they shared with me.    

I owe a special thank-you to Coach Jack Bertell for believing in me enough to give me the opportunity to try out for the varsity team as a freshman. That opportunity meant a great deal to me. It challenged me to grow, pushed me to become better, and helped lay the foundation for the experiences and lessons that would follow. Sometimes, all a young person needs is someone willing to give them a chance, and I will always appreciate Coach Bertell for giving me mine.      

Wilson High School gave us so much more than the opportunity to play basketball. The school supported us, believed in us, and provided us with every opportunity to succeed. For that, I will be forever grateful. When I reflect on my life, I honestly believe that my time at Wilson may have been one of the most beneficial and formative periods of my life. The friendships, the discipline, the competition, and the life lessons I gained during those years continue to mean something to me today. Those experiences helped build a foundation that extended far beyond the basketball court.    

The PIL gave us a platform to challenge ourselves, represent our schools with pride, and build relationships and memories that have lasted a lifetime. The value of those experiences reaches far beyond wins and losses, and I am thankful to have been a part of that tradition.

Being inducted into the PIL Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor. While I am grateful for the recognition, I also recognize that no one reaches this point alone. I stand here today because of the coaches who believed in me, the mentors who guided me, the teammates who challenged me, the school that supported me, and the community that helped shape my journey.    

Finally, congratulations to all of the other PIL Hall of Fame inductees. It is a privilege to share this recognition with such an outstanding group of individuals who have each contributed to the rich history and legacy of the league.    

I will always be proud to have represented Wilson High School and to have been a part of the PIL family. My gratitude runs deep, and the memories and lessons from those years will stay with me for the rest of my life.    

Thank you, Wilson High School, thank you to the PIL, and thank you to everyone who played a part in my journey. This is truly an honor I will cherish forever.