DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — Amanda Jackson remembers her daily walks from Clark Middle School to Rose Street Park in Springfield.

It was there, until she got her own basketball hoop in the sixth grade, where she grew up playing against everyone — including the boys — and learned how to score in bunches.

Jackson, now a redshirt senior at Miami University, has become the most prolific scorer in the school's history.

"It's kind of overwhelming," Jackson said. "To sit back and think about it. It's kind of breathtaking at times."

Jackson is the all-time scoring leader at Miami with 1,750 points. She broke the previous mark of 1,728 points set by Heather Cusick in 2003.

She currently holds three other records: career field goals made (607), career field-goal attempts (1,497) and 20-point games (35).

Jackson said her scoring ability lies in her aggressiveness — on both ends of the floor.

"Sometimes, my defense leads to steals, and I get buckets that way," Jackson said. "Our point guard (Jenna Schone) does a great job pushing the ball up the floor. Coach (Maria Fantanarosa) does a great job calling plays for me. I take what the defense gives me."

It was at South High School, under coach Lee Ann Ballard and assistant coaches Jamie Stewart and Terry Tolliver, where she learned a lot about the game. She was the 2002-03 Clark County Miss Basketball as a senior.

"They taught me about the fundamentals and working hard," Jackson said. "I give a lot of credit to them for helping me get to the point where I am."

Her records haven't come without some adversity. Jackson was forced to miss her junior season after a serious knee injury, but she's fought back to become one of Miami's greatest talents.

During that time, she's also graduated with a degree in Sports Studies and is currently taking graduate courses in the Family and Child Studies program.

"There are so many life lessons that you learn through basketball, on and off the court," Jackson said. "It's amazing."

Of course, she's not ready to end her career just yet. She still has dreams of playing in the WNBA, or on a professional team overseas. Of the current 166 players in the WNBA, only one (Stephanie Raymond, Northern Illinois) has come from the Mid-American Conference.

"I would love to get the opportunity to play," Jackson said. "If I do, I'll take full advantage of it. I have to get the right people to see me."

There's already talk around the university that her No. 1 jersey could someday be retired. Only two other players in school history have garnered such an honor.

However, Jackson won't think about the records until her career is over.

She'll just play one game at a time, as if she were on the court at Rose Street Park.

"It just seems so surreal most of the time," Jackson said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0365 or mcooper@coxohio.com.