The Don Corbett legacy is still being felt at the high school and college levels. Charles Jackson and Kevin Graves played basketball together for one year as teammatesat A&T.

Now Jackson is the head coach at Rockingham Community College and Graves is the head coach of the varsity girls at Greensboro Day School.

Graves, a close friend of Aggie guard Steven Rush, played the 1989 season at A&T as afreshman and then transferred to UNCG to finish out his degree.

Still, Graves stayed close to the A&T program and donates money to A&T.

“I transferred from A&T strictly for academics,” Graves said. “It wasn’t because of basketball.”

When Graves enrolled at A&T, he wanted to be an exercise and sports science major, but A&T only had a physical education program. So he decided to transfer to UNCG.

“My dedication and commitment is to A&T,” Graves said.

“I give my money to A&T. A&T has always been my home. All my teammates have a tight nucleus.”

Graves impact was recently shown for the Aggies. Rush called Graves and mentioned how he wanted to transfer from UNC-Asheville.

Graves made the call to A&T and other colleges for Rush. The Asheville transfer is now leading the Aggies in scoring.

“A lot of people ask me why I am so dedicated to A&T’s basketball program,” Graves said.

“That’s where my heart is.” Graves started coaching in 2003 as an assistant at Greensboro Day for the boy’s team.

Graves just finished up his first year as ahead coach at Greensboro Day School.

“He is a great addition to the Greensboro Day staff,” said Greensboro Day junior guardKathryn Henderson. “He expects the best from us and that’s what we give him.”

Graves paid close attention to Corbett’s coaching style in his one year as an Aggie.

“It helped me learn basketball,” said Graves, who attended Page High in Greensboro. “In high school I never learned basketball like that.”

During summers, Graves works in basketball camps. He has been involved in Juwan Howard, Charlie Ward and Eddie Curry camps.

“Kevin is always going to be an Aggie,” Jackson said. “When we get together during homecoming, the basketball players, we are going to call Kevin.”

Graves spent six years in the United States Air Force as an air crew physiology instructor.

He was within miles of the pentagon when it was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.

“I was crazy,” said Graves, who was stationed at Andrews Air Force base. “We were on a 24-hour lockdown. It was a weird time in my life.”

Graves worked with children in the Air Force. He worked at the youth center on his base.

“I like to help kids when they don’t have an outlet,” Graves said.

Graves and Jackson were in attendance of a brawl that goes down as one of the biggest fights in A&T’s history. The Aggies were playing against N.C.Central and were the last time Central played A&T at CorbettSports Center.

“Me and Charles Jackson were sitting beside each other,” Graves said. “We were sittingon the side watching, and Coach Corbett told everyone not to move on the bench.”

Jackson recently finished 19-10 up his first season as head coach at RCC. He accomplished that record with no starting players over 6-feet. Jackson has also did this while driving the bus to games,taping his own games and cleaning the team’s uniforms.

“You got to crawl before you walk,” Jackson said. “You got to walk before you run. It’s not like a big-time program.”

As an Aggie, Jackson was named to the All-Defensive team and most improved from 1990-91. He was the team captain from 1991-93.

When Jackson’s teammates attend RCC’s games, they are stunned by his playbook. It is very similar to the Aggies of their time.

“We got a box play,” Jackson said. “It brings back memories.”

It’s hard to defend. A lot of people ask, ‘where did you get that play?’ It’s a Don Corbett play.”

“It’s cool that they used that play,” said RCC sophomore guard Marques Thomas. “Healways relates basketball to real life. He wants us to be the best we can in life.”

Jackson takes his players to UNCG, A&T and Greensboro College games. He has attendedA&T practices. He is the Director of Hoopfor Fun, a basketball camp. Graves and other former A&T players have helped with it.

“When we come back together,” Jackson said. “It brings back so many memories. It’sexciting.”

He has also worked at camps at UNC-Charlotte, A&T,Pincrest High School, WestMontgomery High School and Greensboro College.

Jackson served as an assistant at Greensboro College in 1997-1999 and 2002-2003. He tells his players to not surround themselves with losers.

“I tell my guys that ball is going to go flat one day,” Jackson said. “Some of the parents are all about just basketball. Iinvite my players into my office to see my awards. I had to work hard for it.”

Jackson is currently the assistant mainstream resources unit coordinator for Greensboro Parks & Recreation.

“I’m a diehard Aggie,” he said. “I tell anybody that will listen; there ain’t nothing but an Aggie.”

Charles Jackson Bio

Hometown: West End, N.C.College: N.C. A&T 1994Major: Recreation AdministrationPosition: Guard- All-Defensive team 1990-91, MostImproved 1990-91, Team Captain91-93′.- Assistant basketball coach atGreensboro College 1997-99′ &2002-03′- Former Intramural Sports Directorat A&T 1997-98′.- Head Coach at Rockingham CommunityCollege 2006-07′.- Assistant coach at RCC 2005-06′.

Kevin Graves Bio

Hometown: Greensboro, N.C.College: UNCG 1993-Concentration in Youth and CommunitySport Development- Member of Kappa Alpha PsiFraternity.- Former Guilford County SchoolsCrisis Prevention Assistant.- Six years of active duty with theUnited States Air Force.- 2003-04′ Greensboro Day varsityboys assistant.- 2006-07′ Greensboro Day varsitygirls head coach