Lewis Jackson very nearly opted to redshirt during his sophomore year.
He'd messed up his foot in the preseason, costing him nearly half the season. Had he decided to sit, who'd have blamed him? Trading a full season of eligibility for a half season playing on a flat tire would seem like a raw deal.
It was a difficult decision - Jackson said his mind changed repeatedly - but at the end of the day, he erred on the side of wanting to win, to the surprise of no one familiar with the point guard's wiring.
That team was a special one, with three dynamic sophomores who were long on talent and a pair of respected seniors who were full of both heart and soul.
That was a Final Four team and Jackson knew it.
So he came back, wanting to be part of it.
And he was proven correct.
In the seven games Jackson played in before Robbie Hummel got hurt - perhaps you've heard about that - the Boilermakers were 7-0 with wins over three top-10 teams, two of them on the road.
Personally I remember walking out of Value City Arena that year after Purdue's 60-57 win over No. 9 Ohio State knowing the Boilermakers were going to the Final Four that year.
Purdue reached No. 3 in the polls.
"I felt like nobody could beat us, no way" Jackson said. "You'd walk into every gym thinking, 'No way you can beat us.'"
Alas, Hummel was hurt at Minnesota and that was that, but what came thereafter summed Jackson and the toughness he's brought to Purdue perfectly.
Jackson wasn't 100-percent healthy, not even close.
And after Purdue's Final Four hopes, practically speaking, were dashed, things worsened for him, with the screw holding his foot together breaking.
That can't be pleasant.
But Jackson didn't just play. He played. Hobbling, he was an NCAA Tournament hero.
Chris Kramer beat Texas A&M with his game-winning layup to send Purdue to the Sweet 16 in Houston.
But it was Jackson who put Purdue in position to be in that position, handing out nine assists with just one turnover in a tight first-round win over Siena. That was the first game after he'd wrenched his re-injured foot in the Big Ten Tournament.
I'll remember Lewis Jackson in some part for his ability to rise to the occasion.
How many times in Jackson's career has he simply taken over games? As if he could do it at will. Against Temple in San Juan, he was the best player on the floor. At Minnesota this season, he carried Purdue, getting to the rim for all those buckets in a really important road win early in the season, even as his back hurt more and more with every violent collision with the hardwood. At Michigan this past weekend, other guys scored the points, but Jackson was that game's MVP if you ask me. He grabbed that game by the you-know-what.
It's easy to underestimate Jackson. Look at him, he's 5-foot-9, for crying out loud, the smallest player in the Big Ten, small enough to be condescended by TV people who call him "Little Louie," like he's some adorable plush doll or bit of Disney Channel programming.
Jackson's short. But the chip on his shoulder's about eight feet high.
It's your classic little-man scenario where the littlest guy on the floor is one playing with the biggest heart, no matter if his foot's mangled, his head concussed or his back screwed up.
Jackson's quick, one of the quickest players to ever suit up for Purdue, maybe the quickest. He's got flair rarely seen in West Lafayette, an "And-1" video highlight waiting to happen, all without him compromising playing solid basketball and doing silly things. His great pass-to-stupid pass ratio is astronomical.
Jackson's been solid, with a sparkling assist-to-turnover ratio that tops a Big Ten loaded with good point guards.
He's solid on the floor and off the floor.
Was Jackson a bit rough around the edges when he got to Purdue? Sure, he was. If you know about his background, you know he's had good reason to be.
But today ... don't ask coaches or teammates about how reliable Jackson is.
Ask academic coordinator Todd Foster or leadership adviser Cathy Wright-Eger about Jackson. They'll tell you what you need to now in that sense. They'll tell you about a kid who's all in.
Jackson walked into a tough situation as a freshman, as a point guard on a well established team. He quickly became a leader on a team full of them.
He was a very good player from Day 1 and never looked back, even as injuries have done their best to hold him back. He'll leave as one of the best point guards in school history.
When you're small and when you are dealt certain challenges in life - read Stacy Clardie's excellent story in our e-magazine this week - you have to fight.
That's a word we keep coming back to with these seniors: Fight.
Jackson, if there's ever been one, is a fighter.
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