By the time
Traivar Jackson arrived in Flagstaff, his journey had already stretched across four programs, multiple roles and countless questions about where he truly fit.
Now, in his final college season with the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks men's basketball team, Jackson isn't searching anymore. He's closing out his journey where it feels right.
The People Behind the Path
Jackson's basketball career didn't move forward by accident. Every stop along the way was shaped by people who believed in him before he fully believed in himself.
At the center of that group are his father and his father's close friend, Jesse Brown. They helped guide Jackson from Pima Community College to Tarleton State, then to Grand Canyon University and finally to Northern Arizona.
Those relationships, Jackson said, provided a much-needed sense of stability in a career that rarely stayed at one place for long.
Learning Who He Was at Each Stop
Each program didn't just develop Jackson as a player – it revealed something about who he was becoming.
At Pima Community College, Jackson arrived in 2021 expecting to redshirt. Instead, he learned confidence. He realized that relationships off the court directly translated to success on it and that aggressiveness wasn't optional.
"A good connection off the court directly translates on the court, and I had to be more aggressive," he preached.
After two seasons at Pima Community College where he became the program's first two-time NJCAA All-American, Jackson transferred to Tarleton State. His lone season in Texas brought forth a different lesson.
Jackson went from being an All-American standout to understanding how to thrive in a smaller role. He learned to appreciate the full college experience – not just basketball – and how to help teammates even when the spotlight shifted.
"At Tarleton, I was forced to realize, 'Oh, this is my role here,'" he explained. "This is what I gotta do to help my teammates."
Jackson was a key contributor off the bench during his only season at Tarleton State, but he only averaged 14.6 minutes per game. Seeking a new experience, he landed at Grand Canyon where he initially intended to redshirt last season.
After the NCAA's blanket waiver regarding non-NCAA seasons not counting towards eligibility, Jackson made his debut for the Lopes in January and played sparingly in 11 games.
Living in a metropolitan such as Phoenix brought distractions everywhere, but Jackson learned patience and focus. He embraced being the energy guy on the bench – cheering, supporting and trusting the process.
"I was just giving my boys energy," he said. "I knew my time was coming."
Finding a Home in Flagstaff
For Jackson, the constant transferring from one school to another wasn't a source of anxiety, it became part of his identity.
Staying at one school for four years, he said, was ideal if it was the right fit. For him, chasing the right situation mattered more than staying put.
"If I found the right team, I would settle," he prefaced. "If I didn't, I'd have no problem going through that process again."
Turns out, the situation Jackson was looking for was at NAU. When Jackson first visited Flagstaff, he felt the difference almost immediately.
The trees, snow and outdoors reminded Jackson of his upbringing in Anchorage, Alaska. Flagstaff felt familiar – comforting in a way none of his previous stops had.
"It's almost like a second home," he said joyfully. "You've got everything you need in one spot."
When Jackson committed to NAU last spring, it felt like both a fresh start and a finish line. New faces brought new opportunities, but he already knew this would be his final season of college basketball.
"This is my last year," he declared. "Even if I could appeal for another year, I wouldn't do it."
Within his first week on campus, Jackson knew the place would matter beyond basketball.
"I wouldn't trade these guys for anyone," he said with a smile. "I know that everyone I've met up here are going to be lifelong connections that I'll always cherish."
An Emotional Final Season
Jackson describes the 2025-26 season as an emotional roller coaster so far. There have been many close games, narrow losses and flashes of what the team can become. Through it all, Jackson believes the Lumberjacks have remained competitive and resilient.
"We've been in every game," he said. "There are still a few games left, and I know we have the potential to shoot off like a rocket."
The team's identity, he said, is built on effort, toughness and attitude (ETA) – even when adversity strikes.
On the court, Jackson's biggest adjustment has been physicality. Playing the five (position) against larger Big Sky post players has forced him to return to an old mindset – an aggressive mindset centered around boxing out and getting to the spot first.
Off the court, the challenge has been chemistry. With so many transfers, Jackson has focused on building real relationships so the team can move as one.
"You gotta hang out, so on the court, you're on the same wavelength," he said.
Moments That Made It Worth It
Certain moments this season confirmed why Jackson stayed the course.
One came after a big win over Idaho State last week, where NAU shot at nearly a 60% clip and celebrated together in the locker room, players and coaches included.
Another came at home against Southeast Missouri. After the win, the team erupted in a locker room celebration, forming a dance circle as water flew everywhere. A photo captured Jackson smiling in the center.
"I'll always keep that picture," he said with a smile. "When I look at it, I see nothing but smiles."
Redefining Leadership and Success
Moving schools reshaped how Jackson leads.
At Pima, Jackson admits that he barely spoke. At Tarleton State, he led through humor and levity. At GCU, he supported the established leaders. Finally at NAU, he now sees leadership as a fluid concept.
"It's a domino effect," he said. "It's just the leader in that moment."
His understanding of success has changed, too. Winning still matters, but growth matters just as much.
Jackson now fully believes in his ability to play at a high level, something he never assumed earlier in his career, which has also helped his leadership abilities flourish.
"I understand that I can do it," he said. "I can make that kid from Anchorage's dream into a reality."
The Final Chapter
Finishing his career at NAU has meant everything to Jackson. On Saturday, he'll be honored on Senior Day alongside
Oakland Fort and
Diego Campisano, who have dedicated four and five seasons, respectively, to the program.
He feels a responsibility to match in one season, what his fellow seniors have poured into the program over their entire careers. If he could do it all again, he wouldn't change his final destination.
When his playing days at NAU are over, Jackson hopes he's remembered as someone teammates could talk to, trust and enjoy being around, as well as someone who worked hard but kept joy at the center.
If he could talk to his 18-year-old self at Pima, he wouldn't warn him away from the twists and turns of the coming journey. He'd simply reassure him.
"There's no place you'd rather end than here," Jackson said. "It's all worth it in the end."
And to everyone who helped him get there, his final message is gratitude.
"I'm so thankful for everybody who helped me on my journey. My dad, obviously, Coach Jesse, and my mom," he said. "I want to thank everybody who's helped me get through this journey, from my sisters, my cousins and my old coaches at Pima, Tarleton and GCU.
"My teammates, I would just say, I love y'all and I can't wait to see where the younger guys end up, because I'd love to come back and watch them if they're still here, or even if they're not here, wherever they're at. I love all my teammates, and I hope the best for them, and I hope they get everything they want in life."
