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An eight-year-old steps onto a basketball court, the ring taller than dad and his jersey so big it hangs down to his knees. Flash-forward to now. You are 26, stepping on to a basketball court with four of your teammates and you’re now almost as tall as the ring. You are running around a court, there are commentators, pressure and a drive to win. 

Who are these players? And how did they end up there?

Jackson Meshanic, a starting forward for Camberwell Dragons Big V Championship Men’s team, started playing basketball at home in the United States in Year 2, just like most kids. His mum, he says, was “One of the best players in the state (of Connecticut). She got me into basketball.”

The plan in Year 2 wasn’t to become LeBron James. Basketball was for fun, and Jackson also played baseball and American football. Things changed in Year 4, when he found himself struck with genetic luck and became one of the tallest kids on the team. The drive to win stemmed from being valued on the team and the team’s reliance on him pushed him to perform at his best.

He didn’t stop growing until he reached about 198cm, which was great for basketball but, sadly, complicated his relationship with rollercoasters! The Superman is his favourite ride, the “craziest one”, but his “success rate is like 3 for 7 trying to get on”, as he is too tall.

“I’ve been playing year-round since I was 13 now,” says Jackson, who continued to play through secondary school and college. And his proudest moment in basketball?

“Signing my first pro contract,” he says. It had been a goal of mine, I wasn’t sure if I’d be good enough and, like, I didn’t even realise that was maybe an option until my coach said ‘you might be good enough to keep playing’.”

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Closing in on the halfway mark of his first season with the Dragons Jackson has established himself as one of the leading rebounders in the Big V.

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Basketball was to be his ticket around the world. From playing basketball in the US to the second division in Luxembourg, and all the way to Melbourne, Australia.

Jackson’s journey through college was a fulfilling one. He studied psychology and Spanish, just like his mum did. But basketball was to be his ticket around the world. From playing ball in the US to the second division in Luxembourg, and all the way to Melbourne, Australia.

His journey to Luxembourg was a unique experience. To live in another place, adapt to a new culture and meet a team of great guys. But any move to a foreign country is difficult, especially one with a language barrier. Being an import on a team brings a lot of pressure, as there can be only two international import players on a team. There is pressure to be at your best every time you take the court.

One way Jackson detaches himself from pressure is by reading. His choice in novels is fantasy. “I feel like I can disconnect from like maybe stress from the real world,” he says. The first series of books he remembers reading are Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.

Basketball is a big part of Jackson's life, but it isn’t the only part. Along with Spanish, he speaks some French and has a background in education work. He loves to have a good laugh and enjoys sitcoms – his favourite being Two and a Half Men.

This year brought Jackson to Melbourne to play for Camberwell.

In Australia, footy “is still very much King”, he says, but “I think basketball is rapidly catching up.

“Some of the guys in the club took me to the footy within a month of me getting to Melbourne. They took me to Adelaide with them, too … this (Dragons team) is probably my favourite team I’ve been on. When travelling to games, ‘We usually carpool it and talk, just talk about nonsense on the way."

The relationship between Jackson and his teammates goes beyond just passing to each other on a court. There is a genuine bond and a genuine want for one another to succeed. That's what creates a winning team.

He is a part of the Dragons community and has a “pretty strong”relationship with his coach, Shawn King.
“I talk to Sean, our head coach, like all the time (and) he wants the best for me and the team," he says. "He and the assistant coaches give it to me how it is and I appreciate that.”

Jackson has also been a source of support for the youth teams in the Dragons community. "I try to go to as many youth games as I can,” he says. “I want to support them.”

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Although a long way from home, Jackson (far right) is enjoying life with the Dragons, calling this group "probably my favourite team."

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Jackson understands the basketball world, because it is his world. And with that, comes sacrifice and commitment for the whole family.

“My parents were great, they drove me everywhere,” he says. “My dad drove me an hour-and-a half both ways to practice twice a week and I usually slept the whole way back. And this past two weeks they’ve come down from America, and I have been driving them to the games. We played in Geelong and they both passed out and fell asleep.

“(Without) both my parents, no way I could have kept playing basketball if they didn’t help. My parents would come to all my games, and they would only give me feedback when I asked for it.”

Jackson’s basketball journey has been expansive, exciting and is still growing.

“My advice? keep playing more than one sport as long as you can,” he says. “(It can help your) body learn different movements. Listen to your coaches, there are always people who can help you. Don’t get caught up in who wins and loses. It doesn’t matter a ton. Development is more important.”

Jackson’s story is one of many in the Camberwell community worth sharing.

• Through his first eight games with the Dragons, Jackson ranked among the league leaders in scoring (20.5ppg, seventh) and rebounding (11rpg, second). Sixth-placed Camberwell (4-4) hosts Sunbury (4-3, fourth) in a high-stakes match-up at Balwyn High School on Sunday, May 17 (2pm).

• Jenny Dixon is a member of the Camberwell Basketball Communications team and the Camberwell Dragons Big V Working Group. Look out for more of her work here in the future.

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ALL PHOTOS: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.