Jackson Jambalaya

Thank you, JA. Sincerely, 7A North.

As Robespierre found out, sometimes things you do turn on you unexpectedly. A lot of parents were fine with recruiting players to take playing time from other parents’ children, but then were horrified when a recruit threatened to replace their own kid’s. How are they going to walk the stands on Friday nights with such swagger if their kid never leaves the bench? You can’t live your dreams through a bench-warmer.

It seems maybe JA forgot why it was founded in the first place.

Parents, just get your kids started in Forensics (Speech & Debate). It prepares them for college, and life, better than any other extracurricular. As a bonus, it doesn’t leave them with bad knees and CTE like American football does.

Usually kids who can't start at the 7A schools end up at the MAIS schools. I know a kid who did that for baseball from MCHS to Canton Academy.
If you're a starter at 7A, it's a step down to go to JA. I don't know any details but I've experienced this "recruiting" as I have a sophomore football player. There was some incentive to change schools, 100% guaranteed.

What lessons from this situation are the kids going to learn?

Seems a bump in tuition is in order. Lol. All well deserved.

💯

My Clinton sources said they left because of a coaching change. The CHS coach went to Starkpatch. The DC was promoted. Remember when the coach who came after Leach switched from the Air Raid to a running attack? All the players were recruited for the Leach passing frenzy so what did they all do? Transfer. Same thing happened here allegedly. Coach changing offense to running so if you are a hot passer or receiver, you want to play and have a chance at a good scholarship. Probably the only place they could go is a private school.

I recently read an Ole Miss sports message board where a poster who was moving to the metro area asked for recommendations on private schools in the Jackson area. Most of the recommendations focused on and touted the academic success of the various private schools. Well, if JA is only chasing athletic success, then I see their academic rankings plummet soon.

Wow, both 9:26 & 9:29 are tied for the win on this issue!!! Well said!

There’s usually only one thing that can make otherwise sane and moral men, more stupid and immoral, than sports.

All these defensive players transferred from Clinton because the offense changed????? Great try Pinochio.

What a joke of a school!

"Jackson Academy players TJ White (linebacker) and Dereon Albert (defensive lineman) both committed to the University of Tennessee in July 2025 for the 2026 football class. Both are considered four-star recruits, with White being a top player in Mississippi and Albert also ranked highly in the state."

I think we should be more concerned about the use of the arrow head. That could be taken as an improper adoption of Native American culture.

Clinton had a lousy defense last year. The defensive players were not too crazy about the coach. Think Lou Tepper and look at his roster and record at LSU

I'm not buying the Clinton coaching change line. This is money.

Don't let anyone fool you. I personally know multiple public school families that have been offered FULLY paid tuition for their athletically gifted to attend JA.
There are not enough financially successful families left living in NE Jackson to support JA. No one is going to drive past MRA, Prep, or Heartfield to attend JA. When all the families that pay full tuition leave the school will die. The recruiting has materially changed the school to the point where families with elementary age children will choose to go elsewhere. Middle school Families are leaving in droves.

If you do a little diving into this, you will see most of the kids have siblings that didn’t come to Jackson Academy. You can also see that their parents live at the poverty level.
So who is paying for this? I suspect nobody. JA is just allowing it to win at all cost.
I remember Hillcrest Christain did this a while back ago. How did that work out for them?

Appears Clinton didn't miss any of them on Friday night

Apparently, the 9th grade football team lost to Prep. I’m wondering how many new ninth graders enrolled today. Jackson Academy had some time to look for kids over the long weekend.

As a Hillcrest alum, 10:29 trying to draw any parallels between JA and Hillcrest is laughable. Hillcrest had one good year once, 20 years ago, with transfer players. Hillcrest unfortunately being located in South Jackson is the biggest reason for its decline.

Had two sons at JA, competed in Soccer and Track, one got an athletic scholarship to Ole Miss and actually learned enough there to use his Business degree to become a successful independent international financier, but he spent 5 years to graduate as an athlete. He still is an amazing athlete.

Point is, athletic students often work hard at both education and athletics.

I have to pick a school for my kids in a couple of years, and JA has always been out. Weird vibes going on over there

10:29, thats just wrong. First, you don’t know if their families are at the poverty level and second it’s inappropriate to post such mess whether it’s true or not.

Ask Warren Central how much Clinton misses their old Coach.

Does anyone know how many kids Jackson Academy enrolled in the 11th and 12th grade that did not play sports?

Did Jason and Carolyn pony up for KF’s “Support Jackson Jambalaya” begging thread?

Reminiscent of the 1988 matchup between ND and S Cal (where Holtz benched his starters), Clinton seemed to do a fine job defeating Warren Central. Maybe those players weren't needed after all.

@10:21 and 10:29 nailed it. JA may win a football championship this year but is it worth it to sacrifice the school? If JA is going to survive, it needs to clean house - the Board, Head of School and Athletic Director and go back to the school it once was.

Starkpatch ... really? How old are you?

Better education for the transfers. Work harder and that's life.

Huge "if". I can promise you they'll keep their academic standards for the 99%.😉

Taylorsville and South Panola say, "Hold my beer."

Sacrifice the school? YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS! DIDNT HURT MRA. You sound like a Preppy, of which I am. 🫡

@11:06 see KF’s post over the weekend where there was a murder at the Chevron on Ridgewood…. Go walk at Parham Bridges at night. Go walk in the apartment complex next door. Go 1 street south of Sheffield..

Point is, It’s South Jackson already

@11:58 that's a bit of an overstatement lol. I like how you have to say walk around park at night for it to even be comparable to SJ in the daytime. And even then its not

11:58,

The area around JA is not like South Jackson

Also, JA should be a little embarrassed about bringing all these kids in. It’s not the same thing as players leaving Mississippi State when they changed the offense.

Hillcrest is missing the chance to leverage their famous Deputy Phil aka the whistleblower!

One good year? Hillcrest dominated MAIS baseball for a decade and had several extremely good basketball teams. Their decline was due to being in Jackson. Isn't JA the only private school left in Jackson? Do you really think people are going to drive from Madison or Rankin to attend JA? That area around JA is in about the same shape as the area around Hillcrest 15 years ago.

@11:50 MRA didn’t have this many…

I was at Oxford this weekend and didn’t see this many recruits

Lord only knows how many comments you have culled. You have burned 3 of mine already. Bet they would have been interesting reading.

Lou Tepper at LSU is the worst defensive coaching job in the history of football and that’s a hill I’ll die on.

If a kid can pass the private school entrance exam (without any DEI BS social engineering) and his or her parent(s) is/are paying their tuition, God bless them, regardless of what city they live in, where they came from, or what race they are.

But those paying tuition for kids in order to stack the deck in sports, that take positions away from kids that did pass the test and his/her parents are paying their tuition, that are potentially infiltrating the private schools with immoral mentality’s, simply because they’re an athlete, just to win a sports event - those people need their names made public and should be called out for the P’s O S that they are.

12:18 (who I assume is also 10:59), Hillcrest was good at baseball for close to two decades because they had a fountain of talented white kids to draw from....they weren't recruiting them from public schools, and if they were it was the exception, not the rule. Their best players through that period had been at Hillcrest since elementary school. This was a football conversation, baseball doesn't enter into it.

Also, Hillcrest's campus is basically in the country, literally across the street from not being in the city limits. It is in no way reflective of JA which is located in the middle of the city square in the middle of a large neighborhood on a main thoroughfare.

And to others trying to say that people from Madison County don't go to JA, you're wrong, I know multiple Madison County families with parents that work downtown or at the hospitals who send their kids to JA. It's certainly easier to access from the interstate than MRA for someone who wants to do private school.

Finally, I hate you all because you're making me defend JA, and as a 1990's Hillcrest alum, I hate JA with every fiber of my being. (And Prep, and MRA)

I've known quite a few parents living in Madison County who send or sent their kids to JA or Prep.

This is heart breaking for the kids that have been there their entire life. High school sports were a huge part of my life growing up. I would have been devastated if that got stripped away from me.

Even if JA wins football, basketball and baseball championships, it’s meaningless. These aren’t JA kids. Just the best money could buy.

I'll echo 1:57. I know Madison County families at JA. I don't know why, but they do it.

Everyone I know who sends their kids there, and there are quite a few I know, are happy with the education there.

KF- from what I hear the education is going down fast. They let go a teacher last year because he was too hard. He had been there almost 10 years. He got let go for not passing kids

Too many of these predatory off the books recruiters feeding off of local public school teams...if you cannot start in 7A instead of working hard and earning you a spot, let's just go to a MAIS school for highlights against BS teams...

My anonymous prediction: in 10-15 years, if not sooner, JA will be the private school of choice for middle to upper class African Americans seeking asylum from JPS. Mostly black medical center and Jackson State employees seeking something better than the public offering. JA will tip over 40% AA in the next 7 years. Good? Bad? That's your opinion.

This is a bad look for a school that used to be known for academic excellence. I feel for the kids that have been there for years and won't get to play. Who cares if you're no longer a powerhouse? Go out there and have fun, and be known as a school where you can get a really good education. Unfortunately, WAY too much emphasis is placed on HS athletics nowadays.

Just because you go to a school your whole life doesn’t mean you deserve a chance to play. What the heck would that teach a child? That’s not teaching them to go out and EARN it. I see a lot of theses kids.They are all small, they hang out at a friends house instead of being in the gym. They lack “the want to, and athletic ability to be great”….. it is what it is. Besides that, they know they have mommy and daddy’s money to fall back on as a plan B.

I think KF needs to host a podcast regarding this. I would love to hear JA’s side of the story. Have headmaster, AD, football coach, baseball coach, and head of the board on there. Some of the new kids parents are very vocal on social media and would be an interesting interview. The MAIS would be a good to cover also…

Thoughts???

Some of the commenters really would've blown a gasket if some of those kids transferred from JPS. LOL! The majority of these student athletes have transferred from top tier public schools in the state of Mississippi. All of this snowflake rhetoric "Taken a kid spot on the team" blah blah blah. It's called competition. If you are the better player, you will get in the game and receive playing time. Not just your parents paid tuition. Finally, news flash ladies and gents. Private schools in the Midwest and West Coast have been doing this for years. Offering scholarships to potential student athletes in private school. Exhibit A: LeBron James attended St. Vincent Saint Mary a very prestigious private school in Ohio. Exhibit B: Chris Webber attended Country Day a prestigious private school in Michigan. Exhibit C: Kyrie Irving attended Montclair Academy in New Jersey, another prestigious private school. Bout time private schools in Jackson, Mississippi are catching up.

Come on people, we all know KF is just riding someone else's "Coat Tails"

In ref to the guy that said, “bad look”I hear you, and I truly appreciate your honesty. Your child deserves the chance to participate, grow, and feel seen—regardless of athletic ability. That’s what school should be about: creating space for every student to thrive, not just the ones who fit a narrow mold.

It’s frustrating when the focus shifts so heavily toward sports that we forget the deeper mission of education: building character, fostering curiosity, and preparing kids for life beyond the scoreboard. And yes, when the demographics of a school begin to shift, some people start to question whether their children can still succeed there. That’s not just unfair—it’s harmful. Every child, no matter their background, deserves access to the same resources, support, and opportunities.

Let’s be real: the landscape has changed. But that doesn’t mean excellence is gone—it just looks different now. It’s more inclusive, more representative, and more focused on lifting all students. That’s something to be proud of.

Your child wanting to participate—even without being the star athlete—is a powerful statement. It says they believe in community, in effort, and in belonging. And that’s the kind of spirit we should be celebrating.

This isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about expanding the definition of success. Let’s build a school culture where kids are encouraged to try, to learn, and to grow—whether they’re scoring touchdowns or solving equations. Because when we do that, every child wins.

There's deserving of a chance and the alumni bringing in ringers that take your spot when you've earned a spot on the team for years. I think those are two different arguments. I'd be pissed if two months ago I thought my kid was going to start his senior year then some kids from Clinton get paid to come in and he's suddenly on the bench.

@4:06 that’s a real touching post. But completely ridiculous. This isn’t about making the school better or being inclusive. It’s about winning championships. If it was that inclusive, why aren’t all the other siblings at Jackson Academy. I have several siblings left to go back to their public school. This is that about lifting up anything but a trophy.

For the record, we don't know who is paying what and will never know as it is a private school and has no duty to disclose.

@4:20 Totally get where you’re coming from. But maybe it’s time we ask—what’s the real win? A trophy lasts a season. Opportunity, growth, and access? That lasts a lifetime. Every kid deserves that shot.

Bless ALL these pearl-clutching hearts. You all are acting like these public school players are illegal immigrants sneaking across Sheffield Drive!🤣 If the administration wants to run the school and athletic department like this, then why do we care?

Here’s the moral of the story. If your child happens to be built like a man child at 14-15, get them in some sort of skill training in their favorite sport because they are being viewed as a Mandingo by coaches who want to climb coaching ladder. If your child is built like a scrawny normal teen, well…you s@&t out of luck and better start looking at Discovery Christian, Canton Academy, E Rankin, etc.

First of all, that list is incorrect. What is basically being said is anyone that comes in that isn’t white is a recruit. Some of those students don’t even go to JA anymore and some have been there for years. I find it sad that grownups are having so much fun tearing down young men and women. If a school does not have caliber coaching or teachers, no one would want to choose them. It’s pretty hard to sit here and read these comments knowing that JA is an excellent goal and has wonderful programs, including athletics. If they didn’t, no one would even want to come.

Bottom line, both public and private schools have been trading back-and-forth for years. This is not anything new. JA has a wonderful reputation producing very strong students, some of which are athletic as well.

I have no idea why the students chose to change, but it’s obvious they want to be in a better situation, whatever that might be.

Everyone’s speaking about the money side, unless you’ve worked in a school and you’ve seen exactly what goes on the Jackson Academy financially, you have zero idea.

If families are unhappy that new students come to a school and their child does not get as much playing time, they should go to another school and they will take the place of that child spot. That’s just the way it is in life.

Let these kids play with dignity and let’s support all our children.

@4:42 once again a heartwarming post but you missed the overall point. It’s not like one kid came over for a better opportunity. They brought just about an entire team over to win a state championship.

The parents didn’t move their kids for a better experience for their child. They brought them over for sports only. If that wasn’t the case, then why are the siblings of these kids not at Jackson Academy. Most of these kids have several siblings and none of them came. I guess JA wasn’t going to pay for the younger kids until they were athletes

Did Kingfish steal your boo?

As a parent and grand parent of children who have gone to private and public schools, it’s expensive and sometimes you have to bring over the oldest and then the younger siblings come the following year.

You can’t put all children and families in the same group. That’s short sided as well as assuming the worst.

As stated, changing schools has been going on forever. This is nothing new and there is zero need to shame or belittle the families and especially the kids.

Thank you. Hitting "LIKE" button twice.

Whatta you mean, Kingfish, by "We will never know"? Most of your posts are based on gossip, snitches and "sources say" bullshit.

Meanwhile: What's the big deal about a private school buying athletic ability on the open market. That simply mirrors the College Portal. It's the name of the game. Get over it.

4:06, that has to be the most goody-two-shoes thing I've ever read.

That alleged adults care this much about sports at a handful of Jackson-area middlin' private schools tells actual sensible adults where the entire problem originates.

This kind of thing stands a fair chance of tarnishing the academic reputation of the schools involved. That won't matter for kids who aspire to State, Ole Miss, and other in-state schools. But for the kids wanting to go to out-of-state schools with tough admission standards, it will likely matter quite a bit.

A lawsuit and under oath depositions will clear this all up. Now POST THIS. You have culled any mention of this.

Mr. Kingfish, you put a lot of work into all the information you provided about JA students this year. You’re not publishing fake news, it looks all true. How about giving the other schools in the metro area the same coverage with PICTURES AND DETAILS over the past five years. You’re following the same path of the national media if you don’t.
It’s pretty obvious all the schools have been doing the same thing.
Look at what’s going on in college sports today. It’s only natural that it was going to spread into high school sports. That’s the world we live in now.
In Mississippi, we tend to hold out a little longer to change as compared to other parts of the country, the good and bad. All the schools are changing so you better get with it or get left behind.
Did anyone watch the Jackson Prep football game vs Nashville, TN, Battle Ground Academy last week.
Battle Ground Academy is Jackson Academy on steroids.
Prep traveled all the way to Memphis to play that game.
In regard to Hatfield, they have come a really long way from just a few years ago. Kingfish, publish the picture of the starting offense and defense on that football team last year.
They are growing and thriving using the same approach that JA is using.
This whole discussion reminds me of a lot of the mommies and daddies whining at junior’s little leagues baseball games on Lakeland Drive years ago and I’m sure, buy the sound of some of you, it’s still going on.
Good Luck to all the schools in the Jackson Metro Area!

"Did anyone watch the Jackson Prep football game vs Nashville, TN, Battle Ground Academy last week.
Battle Ground Academy is Jackson Academy on steroids.
Prep traveled all the way to Memphis to play that game. "

How did Prep do playing a Nashville team in Memphis?

I think most people understand what happened to Jackson Academy. They hadn’t won anything in years. They had very weak leadership. A new headmaster with no experience and an athletic director with no guts. They have let the coaches take control of the school by recruiting any kids and as many kids as they want.

No school in the Metropolitan area has brought this many recruits in. When Jackson Academy/Clinton wins their state championships, I hope it has an Asterix by it. For the rest of us at smaller schools, we will never think JA won at all. We have known a lot of of the kids at that school who are good kids, they’re not the ones on the field..

Since you mention Jackson Prep, let me tell you what I know for fact. Jackson Prep parents are so so happy their kids are not at JA. True, they will not win many games this year since they are playing with homegrown kids, but at least those kids are getting a chance to compete. See...when you recruit the entire metro area, the "normal" kid who has a multitude of interests doesn't get the chance over the "sports is the way out" kid coached by people who perpetuate that myth. And many of these kids are built like Mack trucks where the average kid isn't built that way in high school, therefore they don't have a chance to compete. I, for one, don't want my kid playing against 250lb high school kids that can run a 4.5

And, for @4:42...let me guess...your kid plays a position that avoided the wreckage. Good for you! Glad your boy worked so hard to earn his role....Or, could it be, the players that were targeted to take his spot didn't pass the entrance exam?????

The entire high school sports craze is all about size. If you're a kid that sprouts early, enjoy the early success. Most kids sprout late, and at JA, those kids won't get the chance to compete. There are many kids with more skill at sport but just aren't big enough or fast enough...yet.

Lastly, this will run its course. JA will go undefeated and win most games by a large margin. Prep will win maybe 3-4 games. Prep parents will be glad their kids got to play, but many Prep alumni or big-money parents with kids coming up will interject money to help them compete in the future. Meanwhile, JA will revert back to letting home-grown white boys play more after seeing decline in enrollment, and they will lose more in future years. It's a cycle.

All-in-all, it's a hamster wheel that never ends. For one, I'll be glad when high school years are over. Never thought I would think that.