TOLEDO, OH - Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk announced on Monday that 6-6, 212-pound forward Willie Jackson (Cleveland, OH) is transferring to the University of Toledo from the University of Missouri. Jackson can begin playing for the Rockets following the fall semester of the 2017-18 academic year and will have three years of athletic eligibility remaining.

     "I'm extremely proud and honored to have Willie become a part of the Rocket basketball program," Kowalczyk said. "He's a tremendous young man who possesses an unbelievable amount of potential. I love the fact that he comes from a really good high school basketball program and is extremely well-coached. He has all the intangibles that we're looking for, comes from a great family, is a very good student and brings us an element of toughness and athleticism."

     In 11 games at Missouri this season, Jackson averaged 5.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and shot 54.7 percent from the field in 16.9 minutes per game. He opened his collegiate career with an 11-point, nine-rebound outing vs. Alabama A&M (Nov. 13) and also registered an 11-point, seven-board contest vs. Northwestern State (Nov. 26).

      Jackson averaged 21.0 ppg and 14.0 rpg as a senior at Garfield Heights under head coach Sonny Johnson, where he played alongside UT's incoming freshman Marreon Jackson. He helped the Bulldogs to a 23-5 record and a second consecutive appearance in the Ohio Division I state semifinals. Jackson, who scored 20 or more points in 23 contests in his prep career, was named to the Associated Press' Division I All-Ohio First Team following his senior season.