Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus Utah Tech on October 23, 2025 , Tie , 2, to, 2
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T 2-2
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Niki Jackson
Draksin Lands One of Arizona's Elite
8/5/2014 11:35:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Niki Jackson joins GCU for 2014 season
Grand Canyon University head men's soccer coach Petar Draksin today announced the addition of highly touted recruit Niki Jackson to the squad for the 2014 season.
"In my opinion, he is the top soccer player out of the state of Arizona in this senior class," said Draksin. "We are very fortunate to land him over some big name schools such as Washington, Akron, and New Mexico. Niki committed here early and it was a true class act on the family's part to stand by their commitment."
"He will have a huge presence up front for us," Draksin explained. "Everybody on our schedule knows who he is and they are just amazed that we were able to keep him at home."
Jackson's list of club soccer accomplishments span many years, most recently when the 6-1 forward played for the Vermont Voltage of the Professional Development League and led the Sereno Club U18 squad to an Arizona State Championship during the 2014 season.
Considered to be one of the top players from the state of Arizona, Jackson has led three different clubs to a No. 1 ranking in the nation: Real Salt Lake U17/18 Academy in 2013, FC Phoenix in 2011, and West Coast FC (California) in 2009-10. While with Real Salt Lake, he was called up three times to play with their Reserve Professional Team, scoring in two different games.
United States Men's National Team Assistant Coach Martin Vasquez was the one that recruited Jackson to play for the Real Salt Lake Academy and Chivas Youth Academy.
"Coach Draksin coached the Phoenix FC club team that I played for, so he became close to my family," said Jackson. "There were a lot of schools coming after me and I stayed committed to Coach Draksin because I have always wanted to play at home and in front of my family."
"I am looking forward to the transition of playing college soccer after my time in the Academy reserve games and the experiences I have had," Jackson said. "I am used to playing around big defenders so I think I will be able to adapt pretty well to soccer at the Division I level."
In 2012-13, he was invited to play and train with two top-ranked Brazilian clubs for the Mineiro Championships: Cruzeiro and U20 Funorte. Jackson has also trained every year since 2007 with Tetra Brasil Academy in Montes Claros, Brazil.
"His vast experience has helped tremendously in his development as a soccer player, but we can't forget that he is just a freshman and we have to be cognizant of that and the pressure that we place on him," added Draksin. "But this is one kid that I have no doubt will be drafted out of this program and play Major League Soccer."
From 2009-12, Jackson was invited to every spring and fall National Training Camp. As a member of youth clubs in Memphis, Tenn., he made the Region III Olympic Development Pool for the U14 age group when he was just 12 years old. That same year in 2007, he traveled to London to compete and train with the Superclubs National U14 team.
In 2010, his West Coast FC team was semi-finalists at the Nike Manchester United Cup and was Dallas Cup finalists and semi-finalists in back-to-back years in 2011 and 2012.
While playing for Cactus Shadows High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., Jackson was ranked in the top-10 nationally in scoring according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. Additionally, he was named Cactus Shadows Offensive Most Valuable Player in back-to-back years (2012 and 2013).
"For our first legitimate Division I recruiting class, it is pretty special that we were able to secure the top player in Arizona," said Draksin.
"I am looking forward to the home games and being able to play in front of the GCU crowd," added Jackson.
The Antelopes open their season with the annual Alumni Game on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. on the GCU Soccer Field. The regular season gets underway on Aug. 29 at Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Fast forward to the 3:35 mark of this clip to see Jackson scoring for the Real Salt Lake reserves of Major League Soccer earlier this year.
"In my opinion, he is the top soccer player out of the state of Arizona in this senior class," said Draksin. "We are very fortunate to land him over some big name schools such as Washington, Akron, and New Mexico. Niki committed here early and it was a true class act on the family's part to stand by their commitment."
"He will have a huge presence up front for us," Draksin explained. "Everybody on our schedule knows who he is and they are just amazed that we were able to keep him at home."
Jackson's list of club soccer accomplishments span many years, most recently when the 6-1 forward played for the Vermont Voltage of the Professional Development League and led the Sereno Club U18 squad to an Arizona State Championship during the 2014 season.
Considered to be one of the top players from the state of Arizona, Jackson has led three different clubs to a No. 1 ranking in the nation: Real Salt Lake U17/18 Academy in 2013, FC Phoenix in 2011, and West Coast FC (California) in 2009-10. While with Real Salt Lake, he was called up three times to play with their Reserve Professional Team, scoring in two different games.
United States Men's National Team Assistant Coach Martin Vasquez was the one that recruited Jackson to play for the Real Salt Lake Academy and Chivas Youth Academy.
"Coach Draksin coached the Phoenix FC club team that I played for, so he became close to my family," said Jackson. "There were a lot of schools coming after me and I stayed committed to Coach Draksin because I have always wanted to play at home and in front of my family."
"I am looking forward to the transition of playing college soccer after my time in the Academy reserve games and the experiences I have had," Jackson said. "I am used to playing around big defenders so I think I will be able to adapt pretty well to soccer at the Division I level."
In 2012-13, he was invited to play and train with two top-ranked Brazilian clubs for the Mineiro Championships: Cruzeiro and U20 Funorte. Jackson has also trained every year since 2007 with Tetra Brasil Academy in Montes Claros, Brazil.
"His vast experience has helped tremendously in his development as a soccer player, but we can't forget that he is just a freshman and we have to be cognizant of that and the pressure that we place on him," added Draksin. "But this is one kid that I have no doubt will be drafted out of this program and play Major League Soccer."
From 2009-12, Jackson was invited to every spring and fall National Training Camp. As a member of youth clubs in Memphis, Tenn., he made the Region III Olympic Development Pool for the U14 age group when he was just 12 years old. That same year in 2007, he traveled to London to compete and train with the Superclubs National U14 team.
In 2010, his West Coast FC team was semi-finalists at the Nike Manchester United Cup and was Dallas Cup finalists and semi-finalists in back-to-back years in 2011 and 2012.
While playing for Cactus Shadows High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., Jackson was ranked in the top-10 nationally in scoring according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. Additionally, he was named Cactus Shadows Offensive Most Valuable Player in back-to-back years (2012 and 2013).
"For our first legitimate Division I recruiting class, it is pretty special that we were able to secure the top player in Arizona," said Draksin.
"I am looking forward to the home games and being able to play in front of the GCU crowd," added Jackson.
The Antelopes open their season with the annual Alumni Game on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. on the GCU Soccer Field. The regular season gets underway on Aug. 29 at Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Fast forward to the 3:35 mark of this clip to see Jackson scoring for the Real Salt Lake reserves of Major League Soccer earlier this year.
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