Score over 1,000 points for the Bowdoin men's basketball team? Check.
It may not be on every senior's to-do list, but Kyle Jackson '09 did it anyway, becoming just the 19th player in Bowdoin history to accomplish the feat.
"It's an accomplishment that I'm very proud of now and will probably be even more proud of down the road," said the soft-spoken senior tri-captain.
Basketball has always played an important part in Jackson's life.
"My dad played basketball so he got me started playing around in the driveway when I was a young kid," he said. "It's always been something I've really enjoyed."
At Bowdoin, Jackson says that basketball has taught him "how to balance time commitments," and helped him understand "the importance of a strong work ethic."
"Kyle is a great guy, he kind of took the younger guys under his wing," said teammate Justin Nowell '12. "He's a great leader. He knows when to get emotional and when to cheer a guy up when you're having a bad day. He's a great teammate, he really plays the whole game."
Men's basketball coach Tim Gilbride echoed Nowell's sentiments.
"Kyle is an outstanding person and basketball player who has been a pleasure to coach during his four years here at Bowdoin," Gilbride said.
"He is one of the smartest basketball players I have ever coached and always has a keen sense for what needs to be done in all situations," he added. "Kyle is a quiet and sincere person who leads primarily by example. However, he is a fierce competitor who thrives on the big game and the big moment."
When asked what he'll miss most about his time at Bowdoin Jackson responded, "Definitely my teammates. We're one of the smaller teams here so we hang out a lot and as a result, we've become very close."
Jackson said that the highlight of his basketball career at Bowdoin was when the Polar Bears made the NCAA tournament last year.
"We were all gathered around the radio, and when we heard our name called... it was one of the best moments I've ever been a part of."
This season Jackson has guided Bowdoin to an impressive 16-8 (6-3 NESCAC) record, and he is preparing to face Colby in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC tournament this weekend. Jackson said that Bowdoin has a good chance to make it deep into the tournament.
"I think we've definitely got a shot, it's a wide open field this year, nobody's unbeatable," he said.
Although Jackson remains focused on his upcoming game at Colby—it will be his final Bowdoin-Colby game—he is also preparing for life after Bowdoin, where he hopes to go on to a career in sports management.
Although Jackson has scored more points than all but 18 players in Bowdoin College history, he will be remembered as the quintessential team player.
It's no wonder his best Bowdoin basketball memory wasn't scoring his 1,000th point, but the team's NCAA tourney berth last year—a moment of shared joy and excitement for the entire squad.