NEW GG Jackson Intel: Will Jackson actually enroll at UNC in its 2023 class??
In early May, it was big news when the 2023 On3 Consensus No. 1 player, GG Jackson, committed to North Carolina. This commitment brought Hubert Davis the highest ranked recruit of his UNC tenure.
This summer, the native of Columbia, South Carolina, has averaged 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds with 1.6 blocks per game on Nike’s EYBL Circuit. Jackson is also a finalist to make the 2022 USA Men’s u18 National Team.
The 6-foot-9 forward was a heavy South Carolina lean until the Gamecocks parted ways with head coach Frank Martin.
Jackson’s scoop
As part of Jackson’s recruitment to South Carolina, it was to be a part of the 2022 class. In October/November, a plan was devised between Jackson and the South Carolina administration and admissions for Jackson to complete the necessary classwork to graduate as part of the high school 2022 class. Sources close to the situation say the plan was for Jackson to enroll at South Carolina in June of 2022.
South Carolina and Frank Martin parted ways, and no other schools were recruiting Jackson as part of the 2022 class, but the classwork was complete. Fast-forward to the current day. North Carolina makes a run to the national championship game, and the only significant piece they lose from that team is Brady Manek.
North Carolina goes through the portal process and target a couple of replacements for Manek, most notably missing on Matthew Mayer (Illinois). And here we are with June about to start, and the Tar Heels have not been able to replace Manek. We are told this conversation has been approached.
GG Jackson told On3 last week, at the Josh Level Classic, that UNC recruited him to play in the Brady Manek role (click here). This part goes back to the previous South Carolina recruitment, who may still be in play. GG Jackson is prepared to graduate from high school as a part of the 2022 class, if he wants to.
Jackson and the G-league
At the end of the day, GG Jackson is the No. 1 player in the country. The Ignite program has been in consistent contact with Jackson, and with this route, they would be offering real money. This goes for if he were to come out in 2022 or 2023.
The plan has always been the NBA; if Jackson were to come out as part of the 2022 class, his December birthday puts him right on the edge of being eligible after year one. So he is eligible to be a one-and-done and enter the 2023 draft.
What does this mean?
If Jackson is to go to high school next year, Greenville (SC) Legacy Early College and Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill are the two players. However, the intel suggests high school may be the third option for him right now (enrolling in school early and G-League are one and two).
Nothing is done yet. There are still a few moving pieces. However, if you look up in August as high school students are starting to go back to school, do not be surprised if you see GG Jackson is not among them.