Troy “Escalade” Jackson , AND1 streetball legend, passes away

Troy Jackson, former Louisville basketball player and AND1 Streetball legend named “Escalade” has passed away in Los Angeles. He was 38 years old.

Troy “Escalade” Jackson passes away

The cause was hypertensive heart disease, the Los Angeles medical examiner’s office said.

Streetball legend

Nicknamed Escalade after the Cadillac sport utility vehicle, he had mind-blowing ball-handling skills that surprised and enamored opponents and spectators alike.

Jackson appeared in just 20 games at Louisville from 1996-98. He averaged 3.0 points and 1.6 rebounds but was more known for his size (6-9, 350 lbs.) and surprising agility, a pair of qualities which helped him gain notoriety while playing streetball for the AND 1 Mixtape Tour.

“The thing that stuck out most was athleticism and agility that belied his size,” said Robert D. Purvy, executive director of the sneaker company And1. The company ran the And1 Mixtape tour, in which a team of professional street ball stars toured the United States challenging local players. “Great dexterity, great ball handling, and he had a sense of style and a flair for the dramatic.”

Troy Jackson was born in Queens on Jan. 11, 1973 and is the younger brother of NBA basketball legend, Mark Jackson.

He attended Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills, then went to Wallace Community College in Selma, Ala., before accepting a basketball scholarship to the University of Louisville.

Jackson played with the Harlem Globetrotters and the International Basketball Association before joining the And1 tour.

He was among those featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2005 and later played with other street ball organizations, like Ball Up.

In addition to his brother Mark, Jackson is survived by his mother, Marie; a sister, Ana Maria; and two other brothers, Kevin and Harry Jr.