Ball Hawks Threesome Go Way Back

Rick Jackson, Aaron Abbott, and Scoop Jardine of the Philadelphia Ball Hawks

May 12, 2006 – Much is made out of AAU hoopers, their stats, skills, weaknesses and so forth. Most don’t realize that great players generally benefit from great relationships – as the African adage says, it takes a village to raise a child. The Philadelphia Ball Hawks’ Antonio “Scoop” Jardin, Rick Jackson, and Aaron Abbott personify that.

Both Jardin and Jackson play together with the Ball Hawks, and at Neumann-Goretti High school in South Philadelphia, PA. In both organizations, Abbott coaches them – as a head man with the Ball Hawks, and a Neumann-Goretti assistant. That in and of itself illustrates a strong connection, but it’s deeper than that.

When asked what it is like to play with a strong 6’9” post player like Rick, Jardin, a quintessential 6’2” point guard responded “It’s like a dream come true. It’s a guard and a big man”. Scoop went on to elaborate “C’mon, everybody in the country wants a guard and a big man”.

The two played well together recently at the Southern Invitational, with Jardin repeatedly feeding Jackson for post up opportunities, and the big man kicking outlet passes to Scoop, initiating easy fast break opportunities. In their game versus the Memorial Park Playas, Jackson scored 20 points, while Jardin dropped 25 in route to clearly dominating the game. Their stellar play included a large number of assists and rebounds, for Scoop and Rich respectively.

This duo's on court synergy was obvious to all in attendance, and has been a long time in the making; these two young men have played together since the seventh grade. When asked if the Syracuse faithful could expect similar results, Jardin responded “Oh yeah, did you see how played? We are going to carry that to Syracuse. Everybody might love us out there”.

Jackson echoed the closeness with Scoop. “We’ve been planning on going to school together since the ninth grade” he said. “Where he goes, I go. We go to the same tournaments. He doesn’t do anything without me (and vice versa)…We’re sort of like brothers”. His coach even stated “They are together, every single day”.

Rick also feels that having his best friend Jardin at Syracuse is good in that “I won’t be going up there by myself and get lonely and homesick. I have somebody there with me”. The two even plan on sharing a room together at the ‘Cuse.

While it is clear Scoop is a stellar point guard, what’s unknown to many is that his coach, Abbott, was instrumental in cultivating those skills. “When I was in the eighth grade, I learned it (his game) from this man, Aaron Abbott” said Jardin, with Abbott standing right next to him. “He was one of the great point guards at my high school. He just told me how to be patient. At first I just tried to score when I was young. But he gave me everything, one by one”.

Furthermore, Jardin credits those lessons as the reason “I’m with him (and the Ball Hawks) right now. He’s a big part of my life”. During those critical years, Scoop admitted that he was not focusing on the positive things like he should have, and Abbott “picked me up and showed me everything”, which included keeping him “in the gym all throughout my freshman and sophomore years”. The result is now Scoop is a self-admitted “gym rat”. “I just love him for it and thank him” said this nationally recognized lead guard.

Abbott’s guiding hand has impacted Jackson as well. Working with Rick, who he calls “Rookie” has been different than with Scoop, as the young guys differ. The Ball Hawk’s coach indicated Jardin is a fairly intense young man, and “is one of those kids you have to let make a mistake”, of which he will learn from. Rick on the other hand “is a big, fun loving kid”, with a myriad of interests – including computers and making musical beats. Abbott’s approach with him on the hardwood has been to “let him dribble and shoot. I don’t limit him…I let him be free”.

Both approaches have been successful. Not only are these two young guys good ball players, but they are better people. Despite all the attention they get, Jackson and Jardin come across as humble, respectable guys – attributes that are in short supply at times amongst kids who received boatloads of attention and compliments. In short, they keep it in perspective.

For that, Abbott is partly responsible, as well as the Scoop and Rick’s families, as well as the kids themselves. Something good is going on, in South Philly.