Paris Jackson -- I Got Spirit ... FREE SPIRIT!

One minute she's a football player ... the next, Paris Jackson is pom-pomming her face off on her prep school's cheerleading squad ... another sign MJ's daughter is as free a spirit as he was.

Paris -- sporting a short new 'do -- hit the hardwood and rooted on the Buckley School basketball team in L.A. yesterday ... while hamming it up for the cameras.

It's just the latest predictably unpredictable move for the 14-year-old ... who was just playing for the school's flag football team in 2011 -- she's kinda like "Icebox" from "Little Giants" ... only WAYY more bad ass.

Besides the sports, Jackson is also an aspiring actress ... political activist ... model ... and Bieber-enthusiast.

Funny, Michael spent so much time trying to keep his children out of the spotlight ... but now, it seems she's reveling in it.