When the season began, no one knew what kind of impact freshman forward Jackson Rassmussen would have on the Idaho Vandals. The answer has been given by Rassmussen, not by his words but his actions, and how he has played being one of the most important and consistent players on the Vandals so far this season.
Rasmussen, a Meridian, Idaho, native and one of the five Idaho players on this team, was a must-get for head coach Alex Pribble and, even with his transfer out of state to Utah Prep for his senior day, the Idaho pipeline is a big deal for Pribble and the future of the Vandals.
“We knew he’d be ready to make an impact right away,” Pribble said. “The great thing about Ras is he’s nowhere near the ceiling. He’s got great basketball ahead of him. He’s physical, he’s tough, but to me, his best quality is his coachability. He can pick up things very quickly and make adjustments, and that’s a huge strength.”
Over the last two games for the Vandals, Rasmussen has stood out with two 18-point performances against Sacramento and Portland State. A very impressive freshman season is taking place in Moscow, with Rasmussen leading all freshmen in PPG by three.
During this first season in Moscow, Rasmussen has eclipsed 20 points five times, an impressive feat not many people have done for the team this season. Rasmussen has been an elite scorer with a season high and career high of 29 points, which he scored against Northern Colorado. Out of the 27 games he has played, Rasmussen has scored above 10 points in 18 of them. His success, however, did not start in college.
Rasmussen played three seasons of high school basketball at Owhyee High School from 2021 to 2023. He spent his last year of high school at Utah Prep in 2024. He led his team to two state championships and left high school as the number one recruit out of the state of Idaho and the 52nd ranked forward in the country.
Rasmussen was named the 5A Boys Basketball State Tournament MVP, while averaging 17.3 PPG and 7.7 RPG, and received 5A First Team All-State Honors. The success from his past doesn’t define Rasmussen as coaches and teammates look at who he is now.
“This is the right fit for Ras. He’s got great people around him. We trust him. We believe in him,” Pribble said. “Rasmussen isn’t just a great player; he’s a great teammate. He supports his fellow players and strives to be better for them. They want him to keep playing for the Vandals in the future and they know that if he does, success will follow.”
As he has just scratched the surface of what he can be, Rassmussen impact is bigger than the scoreboard. His elite scoring ability to rebound and defend the rim stick is what showcases on the floor. However, his impact of being from Idaho and living out a goal of being a college player, which not many kids in Idaho gets to say they achieved that. His brilliance on the court is great, but his legacy he leaves every time he sports Idaho across his chest is what is his greatest achievement.