AUSTIN, Texas — Ray Jackson III has a name that carries a lot of weight around Central Texas.
It's a legacy that he's largely tried to ignore, which is easier said than done when your dad is part of basketball history.
"We talked about it some, but he didn't want to bring it up much," said Jackson III, who goes by the nickname Tre. "He didn't want me to be his shadow. He wanted me to be my own self.”
Ray Jackson Jr. and the Fab Five changed the college game forever at the University of Michigan in 1991.
“Definitely started learning more about it the older I got," Tre said. "It motivates me to work harder.”
Jackson was a standout at Austin LBJ High School before he went to Michigan.
“He's been dealing with the negativity of being Ray Jackson’s son for years," Jackson said. "And to see him overcome that in this era, it’s amazing.”
Tre is now an up-and-coming junior at Manor High School.
“My approach was to let him love the game," Jackson said. "Even right now, I still don't press him. What they're seeing is just the natural Tre."
But like it or not, there will always be comparisons between father and son.
“I wanted to support him and let him know that no matter what, it’s your season, it’s your life. This has nothing to do with me," Jackson said.
Jackson has been heavily involved in his son's development. He's there giving advice courtside at every game. He led demanding workouts when Tre was younger to help build a work ethic.
“Let me show you what it takes to be there," Jackson said. "There have been some crying nights, but go lay up with your mama, you’ll be alright ... yeah, we got some blood, sweat and tears into it."
Tough love from a father who knows what it takes to succeed.
“There’s definitely been days where I cried in the gym because I was mad at him," Tre said. "At the end of the day, it’s all love.”
And a path that will soon be all his own as he carries on the legacy of his name.
“It's been a journey because people still bring his name up whenever they talk about me," Tre said. "But I'm gonna change that soon.”