Marquise Jackson says “a lot of people…think I’m not good but at the end of the day I show I could play.”
Shortly after a highlight reel of his playing hit the Internet, 50 Cent’s son Marquise Jackson spoke with TMZ about his aspirations as a basketball player and admitted that he’s sometimes a target on the court as a result of his celebrity.
“I mean, it’s a blessing man,” he said of the attention the highlight reel has created, which finds him playing in a prep-school league. “I pray for stuff like this, I’m just happy I’m able to play ball and do something I love.”
When asked if his connection to his father has affected the way people treat him as a player, Jackson hinted that many other players think he’s gotten extra exposure because of his Dad’s celebrity.
“Yeah, a lot of people, they come up to me and say it’s ‘cause of my Dad or they think I’m not good but at the end of the day I show I could play,” he said.
The younger Jackson also spoke about his hopes to play college basketball and receive an athletic scholarship to do so.
“I really don’t know,” he said when asked if he has an interest in any particular collegiate program. “There’s a lot of schools I like, a lot of big-time schools I like. I just really look forward to receiving an athletic scholarship wherever I go.”
After claiming that he could beat his Dad in a one-on-one matchup with a laugh, Jackson spoke about being inspired by 50’s on-and-off-again rival Floyd Mayweather.
“Just seeing him work, his work ethic is really motivation for me,” Marquise said of the boxer. “I really pay attention to what he does in the boxing ring. It’s really an inspiration for me. To see somebody have such a work ethic as his is insane to me.”
