Freshmen are rarely asked to carry a consistent offensive workload at the Division I level. For Jackson Rasmussen, that opportunity came immediately, and he embraced the challenge just as quickly.
Just weeks into his first season with the Idaho Vandals, Rasmussen had already become a steady offensive option, averaging 15.2 points per game through his first 11 games. The production did not fade as the season progressed.
Through 26 games, the freshman forward is averaging 13.7 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 48.5% from the field. All three of those marks place Rasmussen among the top three on the roster and reflect a role that rarely belongs to a first-year player.
Rasmussen entered the season as the preseason Freshman of the Year in the Big Sky Conference, but he said early recognition was never the focus.
“I try not to focus on the awards as much,” Rasmussen said. “I kind of focus more on the team goal – winning the Big Sky championship. In the long run, the individual stuff doesn’t really matter.”
That mindset helped shape how Rasmussen approached his transition to college basketball and his opportunity to produce quality minutes as a freshman.
“I wanted to come in and make an immediate impact,” Rasmussen said.
The Vandals needed Rasmussen to produce instantly as they looked to build a stronger presence in the paint after losing key frontcourt contributors from last year. Rasmussen quickly developed into one of the team’s most reliable interior scorers.
The numbers illustrate how quickly his role expanded. Rasmussen currently has 272 shot attempts, the third-most on the roster and just one less than Biko Johnson. That usage reflects both trust from the coaching staff and the offense’s reliance on his ability to create efficient looks around the rim.
“Our coaches really emphasized being dominant in the post,” Rasmussen said. “They did a great job preparing us to be efficient around the basket.”
Half of Rasmussen’s games have resulted in at least 14 points, and he has recorded five 20-point performances, including a career-high 29-point outing against the Northern Colorado Bears earlier in conference play.
Much of that consistency comes from structure.
“My coaches and teammates put me in positions where I can get to my spots,” he said. “They find me in places where it makes it easier to score.”
Before arriving at the University of Idaho, Rasmussen spent three seasons at Owyhee High School, helping lead the Storm to state championships in 2022 and 2024 while developing into the top-ranked high school prospect in Idaho. After his junior season, Rasmussen transferred to Utah Prep for his final year to face stronger competition.
The move helped reduce the adjustment curve entering college. Even with that preparation, Rasmussen quickly noticed the physical differences from high school to Division I.
“Guys are bigger, stronger and faster,” Rasmussen said. “Just adapting to the speed and physicality of the game was the biggest adjustment.”
Rasmussen started every game he has played this season and missed only one due to illness. While Rasmussen’s production has remained steady, Idaho’s season has recently shifted.
After opening the year with its best start since the 2017-18 season, the Vandals have lost six of their last eight games and now sit in seventh place in the Big Sky. With four regular-season games remaining, Idaho is only two games out of third place.
If they are going to finish the regular season on a high note and climb a few spots before the postseason, Rasmussen’s play will be a huge factor.
When the offense stalls, Idaho frequently turns to its freshman forward to stabilize possessions in the post or generate high-percentage scoring opportunities. His ability to provide offense during scoring droughts has become a noticeable part of his role.
“If we’re struggling to get a good shot, I’m definitely thinking maybe I can help create some rhythm,” Rasmussen said. “But I’m always trying to score within the offense and not force anything.”
Opposing defenses have also adjusted, sending more double teams and collapsing driving lanes to limit Rasmussen’s interior touches.
“I feel like teams have been doubling more in the post and helping more when I drive,” Rasmussen said. “It’s made it more challenging, but it also opens opportunities for my teammates.”
Even as defenses adapt, Rasmussen’s consistency has remained one of the most stable parts of Idaho’s offense, particularly during a stretch when scoring efficiency has fluctuated across the roster.
Rasmussen is one of five Idaho natives on the roster, and was essentially the cherry on top for a homegrown Vandal roster.
“I think it means everything,” Rasmussen said. “Being from Idaho and playing for Idaho is really special.”
That connection becomes even more meaningful with the Big Sky Tournament scheduled in Boise, where Rasmussen expects a strong presence from family and friends.
“Having everyone able to come watch and playing for a championship in my home city — that’s something I take personal,” Rasmussen said.
Despite his immediate production, Rasmussen believes his game is still developing.
One area of focus is perimeter shooting, which he said was a strength during his time at Utah Prep.
“I haven’t been shooting the three as well as I know I can,” Rasmussen said. “These last couple games I just need to trust my shot and stay confident.”
The Vandals still have postseason positioning to play for, and Rasmussen said the locker room understands the urgency of the final stretch.
“We definitely have something to prove,” Rasmussen said. “We’re coming in with a chip on our shoulder.”
For Idaho, the remaining games will determine conference seeding. For Rasmussen, they represent another opportunity to build on one of the most productive freshman seasons in recent program memory.