GG Jackson, a consensus top-5 prospect in the 2023 class, announced his commitment to UNC basketball on Wednesday afternoon.
The great UNC basketball offseason continued on Wednesday as it received a commitment from a prized class of 2023 prospect, [autotag]GG Jackson[/autotag].
The 6-foot-9 forward committed to UNC over Duke, South Carolina, Auburn, Georgetown and professional options.
Jackson is ranked as the No. 1 player in the Rivals150 class of 2023 rankings and the No. 8 prospect in the 247Sports rankings.
Jackson broke down his decision with 247Sports.
I chose them because they showed how I was the No. 1 priority in the class of 2023 and because coach [Hubert] Davis is an African American coach who knows what he is doing… I knew I wanted to go there for sure when before the Final Four game the coaching staff came down to watch me play normal pick up basketball,
They were always calling and checking up on me and it wasn’t all about basketball and I loved that because with coach Davis, I can joke and laugh but also have serious talk with him and that’s what separated UNC from the rest.
The South Carolina native led the Ridge View Blazers to a 20-11 record and state championship while averaging 22.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game this season.
Jackson joins five-star point guard Simeon Wilcher as the two commitments in North Carolina’s class of 2023.
Below is the scouting profile and analysis of G.G. Jackson from 247Sports National Recruiting Director Eric Bossi:
Pushing 6-foot-9, Jackson has an ideal basketball frame. He’s got long arms and a wiry build that will allow him to add needed strength without costing him athleticism and make no mistake, athleticism is a big part of his game. Jackson is able to fly around the court thanks to his ability to accelerate, change directions and get off the floor in a hurry in tight spaces. Though he still has to get stronger, his athleticism is all functional and he’s able to play through contact and doesn’t need a runway in order to take off. While his athleticism is an important part of his game and what helps to separate him from the pack, he doesn’t have to rely on it.
Over the last year, Jackson has made significant improvements when it comes to his skill level. He is a more than capable jump shooter, has a nice jump hook and he’s become a real threat to face up and attack off the dribble. His passing has some room for growth but he’s improved greatly when it comes to recognizing double teams and finding an open teammate. On the block he has an advantage because of his quickness and while his perimeter ability is what may allow him to create distance between himself and other big men in the class, he has to be careful not to float around out there too much.
When he’s got an even mix of inside and outside to go along with what he’s able to do running the floor in transition, Jackson is a major problem on the offensive end. Defensively, he’s ahead of the curve as well. He’s got great anticipation, moves well laterally and uses his athleticism to his advantage so that he’s an above average rim protector who can also defend in space if he gets caught on a switch and has to defend a smaller player.
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