By Myra Bean
The No. 25 ranked Mississippi State Lady Basketball Bulldogs inked North Panola product Jenisha “Shaq” Jackson during early signing period.

Jackson signed a national letter of intent to play for the Lady Bulldogs next season. She relayed this news Tuesday night after the Lady Cougars defeated Independence 40-39. Still grinning hugely Wednesday afternoon that she had shocked her mother, coach and teammates, Jackson said she was excited to attend Mississippi State.

She has not visited Mississippi as of yet but plan to over the Thanksgiving holidays.

Lady Bulldog coach Sharon Fanning took notice of Jackson during the All-Star game this summer and started recruiting her heavily. Fanning’s assistant was in attendance at the Independence game.

When Jackson mentioned in preseason the schools that she was considering, not once did she let on Mississippi State was interested and running away from the pack. Her high school coach, Chris Yancy, was not expecting her to choose a school and sign until April.

Jackson is on track to have a good start at Mississippi State as she made 32 on her ACT last spring.

When Jackson told her mother, Jennifer Mamon, her decision, she quoted her mother as saying, “What?”

“She is happy and shocked,” Jackson said.

Jackson is 6’3” and led the North Panola Lady Cougars to back-to-back district championships and a trip to the state tournament in 2007-08 year.

“We believe Jenisha has the ability to be a be a great player for us,” Fanning said. “She is mobile, physical and does not mind contact. She is an aggressive player. We look forward to having her join the Lady Bulldog family.”