Jenteal Jackson, a sophomore at Skyline, is a formidable challenger in both sports.

As a point guard for the Eagles' basketball team, she is quick, aggressive and doesn't miss very often.

For a sophomore, coach Deb Bennett said, she possesses a maturity on the court well beyond her years.

In fact, midway through last season, Jackson, then a freshman, replaced a senior at the starting point guard position. The switch raised a few eyebrows.

"At first, parents of the older girls thought it was a little fishy," Jackson said. "But after I proved myself, it was OK."

And Jackson keeps proving herself in every game she plays.

Her maturity on the court sets her apart, Bennett said.

"She's a pretty small guard with a huge presence," the coach said of the 5-foot-6 dynamo.

And that's a debatable 5-6.

"I'm not sure if that's with her hair up or down," Bennett said, laughing.

Jackson averages 12.6 points, five assists and only 1.5 turnovers per game. She also leads the team in three-pointers, averaging two a game for a school season-record 17.

"She's an amazing offensive talent, especially for a sophomore," Bennett said.

Jackson doesn't succumb to pressure, either.

"On the court, I try to stay in control . . . calm," she said. "I've pretty much always been that way."

It's a simple - but in no way easy - trait that allows Jackson to move from the physical game of basketball to the mental game of golf.

"When it's time to switch it up, I'm ready," she said.

A three- or four-handicap golfer, Jackson, whose nudge into the sport began by driving golf carts for her dad, golfed on the varsity team as a freshman.

During golf season, she puts in several hours a day on the greens, working to improve her game. And yet she can't quite put a finger on what the attraction is to this particular sport.

She does enjoy the mental aspect and likes the contrast between team and individual sports.

"Team sports are awesome, but individual is always good, too, because then it's all on you," she said. "The combination is perfect for me."

And during basketball season, she's equally dedicated.

Jackson is from a sports-oriented family, and her drive to try every sport was not unusual in her family.

"I played everything growing up," she said.

Jackson narrowed her options before high school, focusing on golf and basketball; polar opposites in the sporting world, but a balance that works well for her.

Her partner is her talented 11-year-old brother, Jaden, who gives her some mean competition.

"He beats me quite a bit," she said. "I love watching him play. He motivates me."

The two compare notes and critique each other's games.

Both began practicing basketball indoors at an early age.

"We always had one of those 7-foot hoops in our front room," Jackson said.

They eventually moved the game outdoors and Jackson began Junior Jazz and moved into the competitive leagues as a third-grader. After a stint with several comp teams, Jackson is now with Salt Lake Metro.

And she's tearing it up on the court this year again for the Eagles.

"I like to shoot threes," she said. "But I also like to penetrate and [pass]. It's an adrenaline rush."