Imagine being one step away from a life-changing opportunity, only to realize you misunderstood the rules. That’s exactly what happened to Stephen Jackson, as he revealed on the Straight Game podcast. The former Golden State Warriors star did not play college basketball because of his academic ineligibility. However, it’s not as if he never attempted to rectify the situation. Yep, Stack Jack had a shot at joining the University of Arizona but knew he was in trouble before he even began.

“Y’all thought it was about to happen. I knew I wasn’t gonna pass that f*cking test,” Stak admitted on the podcast. Joining him in the conversation, Mike Bibby revealed he tried encouraging Stephen Jackson, even setting up a test location near campus and welcoming Jackson to stay with him.

Everything seemed lined up for success. Yet, Jackson’s unfamiliarity with the process and self-doubt got the better of him.

“Somebody [was] there to administer the test to me. I’m not used to motherf*ckers just openly willing to help me with nothing,” Stak shared, reflecting on his mindset. Imagine thinking you’re on your own, only to find out later that help was there all along? That’s the punch to the gut Stephen Jackson felt when the administrator said, “Oh, I’m surprised you didn’t ask me for any help.”

Thinking the proctor was there to stop him from cheating, Jackson didn’t dare ask for assistance. “I would have had me a national championship, dog,” he said, still stung by the missed chance.

But as we all know it, the 6’8″ star’s story didn’t end there. Despite the setback, he entered the 1997 NBA Draft straight out of high school. The Phoenix Suns even selected him with the 42nd overall pick but later waived him. Following this, Stak played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and Australia’s National Basketball League to gain experience before eventually landing in the NBA and even claiming a championship.

This, however, does not stop us from taking a pause and thinking what if Jack made it to Arizona?

What could have been with Stephen Jackson on Arizona Wildcats?

The 1997 Arizona Wildcats gave basketball fans a tournament run for the ages. Taking down three No. 1 seeds—Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky—they made NCAA history. And brought home the championship. Miles Simon, the tournament’s leading scorer, earned MVP honors, with Mike Bibby right by his side on the All-Final Four team.

Their grit shone through, especially when they clawed back from double-digit deficits in their first two games and clinched an overtime thriller against Providence to reach their third Final Four. With a team record for steals that season, the Wildcats were a force to be reckoned with. But imagine if Stephen Jackson had been part of this squad.

While we’ll never know for sure, his presence might have pushed the Wildcats toward another championship. Stephen Jackson wasn’t just good—he was exceptional. He led Lincoln High School to a state title as a junior and shined at Oak Hill Academy, earning All-American honors in 1996. And who could forget his standout performance in the McDonald’s All-American Boys Game, sharing the court with Kobe Bryant?

Adding a talent like Jackson to an already historic Wildcats team could have been the stuff of a basketball legend. Only if he would’ve cleared his SATs.