In some ways, Jackson Becker’s basketball career has been pretty linear. The former Aberdeen Christian standout is now a senior at Presentation College. With no Covid year and no redshirt season and no medical hardship seasons, Becker will graduate in May after four years in both school and on the court.

In other ways, however, those four years have been full of twists, turns, peaks and valleys. He is on his third head coach in those four seasons, none of whom was the coach that recruited him. His role on the court has risen and fallen, like rolling waves on the open ocean. He’s started some games, come off the bench in others, and in still others, never even saw the court.

“Every year has been very different,” Becker said. “A lot of new recruits, a lot of new teammates. Lot of new game plans. You just learn how to adjust to it.”

While the external circumstances have been anything but consistent, Becker’s internal focus has.

“I really try to just give 100 percent effort every time,” he said. “I’m going as hard as I can, no matter who I’m playing for. It’s been tough with playing time going up and down every year. Coaches are looking for different things in a player every year.”

Becker has seen his role stabilize a bit this season under first-year head coach Trevor Flemmer. In the Saints’ 10 games in the early going of the year, he has started five. He is averaging seven points and 2.9 rebounds per game in a little over 18 minutes.

The Saints are 5-5 overall in those 10 games and have won two of their last three. Becker has scored in double digits in both of those wins.

“I think…I’ve become more of a smarter player,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I’m more athletic or more skilled, but I just understand the game more. Knowing where to be and when to be there. Just little things. I’ve become sharper with the little things.”

And the best, he said, is yet to come, particularly as the team finds its rhythm.

“I know we have enough talent to be great,” Becker said. “It’s just a matter of playing together. … The temptation is to go 1-on-1 and try to win on talent.”

That chemistry, Becker said, is building, and the Saints have a lot of season left for it to solidify.

In the meantime, Becker is enjoying his final season on the court and being able to look back fondly at the memories and friendships he’s made.

“It’s really cool meeting different people from all over,” he said. “We have Australians and a couple people from England. It’s been cool meeting people from all different places and becoming friends with them and building relationships with them.”

Becker said he plans to graduate in May with a business degree, then join the family business. Coaching, he said, might be in his future, but not as a career.

“It might be something I would do because I love the game of basketball,” he said.