Cameron Love and Derrick (DJ) Jackson Jr. are set to arrive on campus this fall, bringing with them a shared belief that Kansas City’s basketball scene has been unfairly overlooked.
Both players finished their high school careers among the top three and four prospects in the state for the class of 2026, and they capped their prep years together on the AAU circuit KC Run GMC, where they captured the 16U UA finals championship.
Love, known for his athletic defensive presence, will pair with Jackson, a scoring point guard who stands as Piper High School’s all‑time leading scorer, forming a backcourt that blends tenacity with firepower.
A New Era for the Roos
They will be joined at the University of Missouri‑Kansas City by teammates Will Goode and Josh Kori, a quartet that constitutes the highest‑rated recruiting class in school history.
The Roos endured a rough 2025‑26 season, finishing 4‑27 and slipping into a 14‑game losing streak, a stretch that has left the program eager for a turnaround under head coach Mark Turgeon.
Drawing inspiration from recent local successes such as Keaton Wagler and Bennett Stirtz, Love and Jackson hope to replicate that trajectory, aiming to win their conference and secure a berth in the NCAA tournament.