South Carolina forward GG Jackson declares for 2023 NBA Draft
South Carolina star forward GG Jackson has declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, according to the Gamecocks’ Twitter account. He put together an impressive freshman season despite the Gamecocks’ struggles.
Jackson led South Carolina with 15.4 points per game while adding 5.9 rebounds per game in 32 minutes per contest. His biggest performance of the year came against Auburn when he put up 30 points as the Gamecocks fell to the Tigers 81-66, and his efforts earned him a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. He also had three double-doubles — including a 12-point, 16-rebound game against Western Kentucky.
Jackson’s recruitment to South Carolina drew plenty of attention. He originally committed to North Carolina, but later became the first player to ever de-commit from the Tar Heels and flipped his commitment to play for new coach Lamont Paris and the Gamecocks in his native Columbia, S.C. Jackson was a five-star recruit and the No. 8-ranked player from the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Here was the announcement:
More on the 2023 NBA Draft
The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Round 1 of the draft will be announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, while Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is expected to handle the second round of picks.
To be eligible for the NBA Draft, players must be at least 19 years in age during the calendar year that the draft is held and at least one NBA season from their high school graduation date, or the date that would have been if they are not graduated. It is not required that player spend that one year playing college basketball, though. Players can play in either college, abroad, or the G League Ignite if they choose so.
While this is a significant change from what the rules once were, players are eligible to enter their names into the NBA Draft pool and explore their options by hiring an agent to go through the process, while still keeping their college eligibility. The deadline to make that move is on April 23 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 12 at 5 p.m. ET to withdraw their name from the pool and return to college.
The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 16, which is also the start of the NBA Conference Finals.