dʒˈɪlsən plˈeɪd fɔːɹ ɹˈoʊd ˈaɪlənd hˈaɪ skˈuːl pˈaʊɚ mˈaʊnt sˈeɪnt tʃˈɑːɹlz ɐkˈædəmi, bᵻfˌoːɹ mˈuːvɪŋ ˌɔn tə ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv mˈɪʃɪɡən.
Jillson played for Rhode Island high school power Mount Saint Charles Academy, before moving on to the University of Michigan.