Belleville East's Jackson Muse nominated for Naismith Courage Award after act of heroism: 'He's the kid you want on your team'

BELLEVILLE, Illinois – As he waited for his food at a local fast food drive-thru, Jackson Muse heard a loud crack as two cars collided with each other in front of him across the four-lane highway.

The Belleville East senior basketball player recognized one of the cars and his heart jumped into his throat.

He started imagining the worst possible scenario, one that no 17-year-old should have to deal with.

Without thinking, he tossed the keys to his passenger and leapt out of his car before sprinting through the four-lane highway to rescue his friend.

He wasn't thinking about how reckless the action was at the time – all that mattered was his friend and their safety.

"It didn't surprise me," Belleville East boys basketball coach Jeff Creek said. "He really treats these guys as family. He'll sacrifice anything for them."

As he reached his friend's car, he started yanking on doors to get to his friend. He was in such a panic, his friend had to settle Muse down a bit.

"I had to calm him down a bit," Belleville East senior Alex Jackson said. "I just told him that I was ok, he didn't have to worry, things are going to be alright."

After getting into an accident himself last year and being on the wrong end of text messages of two of his close friends, when he saw the accident, Muse wasn't going to stand by and let another one of his friends pass away if he could do anything to help.

"Basically, the worst-case scenario when anything like that happens," Muse said. "He's not just a teammate, he's my best friend. I just had to do what I had to do."

Leaping into action like that was something he credits to his mother. Seeing the Culver-Stockton signee willing to sacrifice his body like that was something that Creek has seen for four years on and off the court.

Something that he's going to miss when Muse graduates.

"He's the kid you want on your team," Creek said.

For that incredible act of bravery, Belleville East athletic director Mark Larsen nominated him for the Jersey Mike's Naismith Courage Award. The Belleville East senior was selected as one of 10 national finalists and the Atlanta Tipoff Club will announce one male and one female winner on March 7.

For the two winners, Jersey Mike's will make a $2,000 donation to the players' high school basketball programs in their honor and reward each winner with an additional $2,000 per student.

When she was told about his act of courage, Muse's mother Tiffany Kilburn Franklin wasn't surprised.

"That's just what Jackson does," Franklin said. "His teammate that was hurt is a really close friend."

Being nominated at all was a humbling experience for Muse, but being in the final 10 is a big honor for the senior.

"It couldn't go to a more deserving kid, because that's how he lives his whole life, helping others," Creek said.