Dae’Shawn Jackson earned the point guard position as a sophomore for the Springfield boys basketball team. The season has seen its ups and downs, but Jackson is the team’s second-leading scorer and has helped lead the Wildcats to 13 victories after only six victories last season.

The News-Sun recently sat down with Jackson.

Question: What has this season been like for you as a young player at your position?

Answer: It’s been a journey. From last year I’ve improved and I’ve gotten so much better, and my team has too. I felt like me stepping up and everybody else stepping up and filling their roles played a big part in this season, which made it better than what past years have been.

Q: From a team perspective, how would you define this season, and why is it better than last season?

A: It’s been kind of up and down. We lost to some teams we shouldn’t have lost to, but we bounced back from it. Last year we wouldn’t have been able to do that. That’s how I know we’ve improved from last year. It seems like everybody’s buying in to what Coach (Isiah Carson) is teaching us. Last year we just kind of faded out because we couldn’t bounce back.

Q: What does your team motto “hungry and desperate” mean?

A: Hungry and desperate means we’re going to be the hungriest team out there and we’re going to be desperate for the win. We’re going to play 110 percent the whole game and go all out for our brothers. It’s really helped because it gives you a whole new mindset.

Q: You won twice last week, but you didn’t play your best games. Are you ready for the tournament?

A: I think I’m ready. I’ve got to get over those games because I can’t do anything about it now. I’ve just got to make it better in the next game.

Q: What does your team need from you in the tournament?

A: It needs me to step up as a leader and keep my head in the game. It doesn’t need me going out and committing dumb fouls or turnovers. They just need me to help them and guide them to a win no matter what my role is that game.

Q: Is there a teammate who has helped you the most?

A: (Ryan) Minney. The last two games he knows they haven’t been my best games. So he’s been pushing me and pushing me and telling me to keep my head up. Because it’s kind of hard coming back off two bad games, but he just knows I can do it. He has faith in me.