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Derrell Jackson is Going Home

Derrell Jackson hired as Wren boys basketball coach, replacing Fran Campbell


Wren announced Wednesday on social media that Jackson will take over as high school boys basketball coach for Fran Campbell, who retired last month after 42 years with the Hurricanes.




Jackson was a former Wren player and assistant coach under his mentor Campbell before leaving to become coach at Easley.

Jackson said upon his hiring at Easley that he always thought he would follow Campbell as Wren's coach, and will now do that after two years and a 22-34 record with the Green Wave. They were 13-15 overall last season, 4-10 in Region 1-AAAAA.




Jackson is following a local legend. Campbell led Wren to 738 victories, 17 region championships, five Upper State championships and the program’s only state championship in 2022-23.

Wren was 25-5 last season, 9-1 in Region 1-AAAA, and made it to the Upper State championship game for a third straight year.

The Hurricanes were led by senior guard Abijah Franklin, a Furman signee who ranked No. 1 in the state in scoring with 31.4 points per game and was named player of the year on the All-Upstate team.

Wren during its three-year run was 74-18 overall, 28-2 in region games. The Hurricanes came up short in the Upper State title game last season to Lancaster, 61-57, and in 2022-23 in that spot to eventual Class AAA state champion Powdersville, 47-46.

The Hurricanes will lose their three leading scorers to graduation, Brock Cherry and Rhett Warga in addition to Franklin. Jackson’s son, point guard Drey Jackson, was named Easley’s offensive MVP last season as a sophomore. He averaged 12.9 points and 6.5 assists with 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 steals.









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