Tag: Ian Jackson

Guard play propels UNC to first ranked win of the season

Ian Jackson and RJ Davis explode in the Tar Heels’ win over No. 18 UCLA!

There is no denying that the win on Saturday night can be largely credited to two of North Carolina’s guards, RJ Davis and Ian Jackson.

Together, they combined for 41 points as Jackson led the way with 24 points, and Davis chipped in another 17 points. Jackson also had four rebounds as did Davis with two assists. Trimble was the only other player in double figures with 12 points.

After the game, Jackson reiterated, via Inside Carolina, how hard it is to beat AP Top 25 teams, teams which they are now just 2-5 against.

There’s been several games where we’ve been close and kind of didn’t finish it. And it was just one of those games where we got it done. It showed us how hard winning is, definitely how hard winning is at every level, especially at this level. So to come out here and get that final stop and end the game on a stop, it was big for us.

When it came down to it, though, Davis gave the credit for the win to another guard, Seth Trimble.

I shouldn’t have missed the first free throw. I wouldn’t have got to the second free throw (attempts) if Seth didn’t get that stop in the diamond press. That’s the reason why he won the game. He was able to deflect the ball off of the guard’s leg, and we were able to get another chance.

North Carolina will look to a long week break over Christmas as they match up with Campbell next Sunday, December 29th.

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RJ Davis, guards able to earn transition baskets vs. Georgia Tech

UNC’s big advantage in fast break points helped it beat Georgia Tech on Saturday and snap a 3-game slide.

If there’s one area the North Carolina Tar Heels will consistently out-perform opponents in, it’s transition offense.

On Saturday, Dec. 7 in its 68-65 ACC-opening victory over Georgia Tech, UNC’s transition offense shined through once again.

North Carolina (5-4, 1-0 ACC) outscored the Yellow Jackets, 16-5, in fast break points. This was in part due to the Tar Heels’ improved rebounding, particularly from center Ven-Allen Lubin, but also due to their guards’ ability to quickly sprint up the court.

After the game, reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis elaborated on why UNC’s transition game was so important – and why today’s production needs to continue.

“I told my teammates in the huddle that we’re really good in transition – and not a lot of teams can stop us in transition – because of the guards we have,” Davis said. “We are quick, we’re athletic. We have to get stops in order to run. That’s what we did, we were able to get out. I think Elliot (Cadeau) did a good job pitching the ball ahead. We ran a small lineup today, so myself, Seth (Trimble), Ian (Jackson), Elliot (Cadeau) did a good job of coming in – helping out with the bigs and the rebounds. We were able to leak out and get some transition buckets.”

Trimble anchored North Carolina’s scoring attack with 19 points, plus he added seven rebounds and four steals. Davis added 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Jackson scored 15 points, grabbed two rebounds and dished out one assist, while Cadeau filled up the stat sheet with nine points, six rebounds, four assists and game-high three steals.

Lubin and Jalen Washington combined for 14 rebounds, as the Tar Heels out-rebounded Georgia Tech by a 48-37 margin.

Even though UNC struggled throughout – and trailed late in the second half – it’s good to see that transition offense can still lead it to victory.

North Carolina will need consistent fast break opportunities to generate some positive momentum – and get back to playing a consistent brand of winning basketball.

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Ian Jackson’s breakout game a rare bright spot for UNC in big loss to Alabama

Ian Jackson was the bright light UNC needed in Wednesday’s loss to Alabama.

Seemingly nothing could go right for the North Carolina Tar Heels on Wednesday night, as they lost 94-79 to Alabama in the ACC-SEC Challenge.

UNC (4-4) played great defensively for the first three minutes, then trailed off. North Carolina couldn’t make anything from deep, turned the ball over too many times and struggled against the Crimson Tide’s (7-2) size.

If there was one positive takeaway for the Tar Heels, though, it was a breakout game from star freshman Ian Jackson.

Jackson scored a career-high 23 points in 28 minutes off the bench, making 10 of his 17 shot attempts, including a 3-of-5 mark from the perimeter. Jackson led all scorers with his point total, plus he was the only UNC player with multiple 3-point makes.

“I feel like this year, I’ve shot it pretty well,” Jackson said in postgame interviews. “My teammates are great players themselves. They draw a lot of attention. RJ (Davis) draws a lot of attention. That kind of leaves me free to be open to make shots. I put in a lot of work, I’ll be out there shooting and getting shots up. I go out there and make shots.”

Hubert Davis is increasing Jackson’s minutes as North Carolina’s season progresses – and it’s paying off.

Jackson played a career-high 28 minutes on Wednesday against Alabama, breaking his previous high of 21 minutes against Michigan State. Jackson also scored 14 points against the Spartans in Maui, his second-straight game in double-digits – and fourth overall in 2024.

With Jackson’s big game on Wednesday, combined with struggles from RJ Davis, Seth Trimble and Elliot Cadeau, don’t be surprised to see Jackson in UNC’s starting lineup going forward.

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Two UNC freshmen will NOT be available against American

UNC will be short two of its star freshmen tonight in basketball action against American.

When the North Carolina Tar Heels take on the American University Eagles tonight in men’s college basketball action, they’ll be doing so without two of their star freshmen.

Per InsideCarolina, guard Ian Jackson and center James Brown will be unavailable due to lower-leg injuries. They are considered day-to-day.

Jackson, a projected starter this offseason, has instead averaged 7.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.5 blocks off the bench. Brown, UNC’s voice of reason who was a key behind its second-half comeback against Kansas, grabbed two points and two rebounds against Kansas on Friday, Nov. 8.

What do Jackson and Brown’s injuries mean for North Carolina, besides the fact it’ll be down two of its best young players?

Brown’s injury likely won’t impact the Tar Heels as much, as they’re deep in the post with Jalen Washington, Jae’Lyn Withers, Ty Claude and Ven-Allen Lubin.

It’s Jackson’s injury, though, where things get a bit tricky for UNC. He is North Carolina’s third-best perimeter shooter, registering a 50 percent clip through two games. The Tar Heels will almost certainly miss Jackson’s speed and him acting as a sixth man off the bench. If UNC’s guard trio of RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble get in foul trouble, the roster is pretty thin behind him – unless UNC elects to dip into its walk-ons.

Luckily for North Carolina, Jackson and Brown’s injuries come in just the third game of 2024. Hopefully their injuries aren’t too serious, but if Jackson and Brown are out for an extended period of time, Hubert will have to re-shuffle his minutes a bit.

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Two Tar Heels land in ESPN 2025 NBA mock draft

Which two UNC basketball players are being mocked in the ESPN 2025 NBA draft.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are two games into their 2024-25 season and have a 1-1 record after beating Elon and then losing a close game at No. 1 Kansas a few days later.

While it’s still early in the season, the expectations are still high for the Tar Heels as they hope to repeat as Atlantic Coast Conference regular season champions. And if they want to do that, a big freshman duo will have to play at a high level.

As part of North Carolina’s 2024 recruiting class, the Tar Heels landed two five-star recruits in Drake Powell and Ian Jackson. The duo have earned early minutes this season and now they are drawing some hype in terms of the 2025 NBA draft.

In Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo’s updated mock draft on ESPN, they projected all 30 first-round picks. Only one North Carolina player landed in that top 30, with Drake Powell going to San Antonio (via Chicago) at No. 11 overall. Here is what they said about Powell:

Powell isn’t playing a featured role on a North Carolina team that is driven heavily by the guard trio of Elliot Cadeau, Seth Trimble and RJ Davis — Powell has just seven points in his first two games — but his role should remain significant enough to highlight his strengths. He’s an excellent perimeter defender with great agility and length who can score and make plays in transition. Scouts will want to see him find ways to chip in and carve out a niche without heavy touches, including taking the open 3s that are presented to him, which he has looked reluctant to do at this point.

Powell isn’t a dynamic shot creator or consistent perimeter shooter, and his ability to space the floor will be paramount in the long run. We’ll see what type of season he puts together on one of college basketball’s top teams and whether he can propel himself into the lottery. — 

While Powell was the only Tar Heel in the first round, his teammate Ian Jackson was also listed but at No. 31.

He was mocked to go as the first pick in the second round.

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Hubert Davis praises rebounding from freshmen in first game

How did Ian Jackson and Drake Powell fare in their first collegiate basketball game?

The North Carolina Tar Heels barely avoided a massive upset in their 2024-2025 college basketball opener, thanks to their top returners and some needed defense late.

RJ Davis showed why he is the country’s best player, draining the tying jumper and, moments later, giving UNC the lead for good on one of his three 3-pointers. To no one’s surprise, Davis led all scorers with 24 points.

One of North Carolina’s key storylines entering the season was how much playing time their star freshmen: Drake Powell, Ian Jackson and James Brown, would get. Preseason predictions had Jackson in the starting lineup, with Powell playing plentiful minutes off the bench.

In Monday’s victory against Elon, Powell and Jackson didn’t have a massive impact on the scoresheet. They did, however, impress head coach Hubert Davis in their collegiate debut.

“I thought they did some really good things, both Ian and Drake,” Hubert said in the postgame press conference. “You know, one of the things that they just keep getting better every practice and every game. One of the things that I think people lose sight of is just to transition from high school to this level is real. And so you can be a McDonald’s All-American and still playing at this level, it takes time. I really love how they have bought in defensively. They do a good job, not particularly on the stat sheet, but they do a really good job of rebounding the basketball. And then on the offensive end, they can create, make shots, and so they’re going to play a ton of minutes this year. We need them to step up and be big. And I’m so glad that they’re here.”

Both Powell and Jackson came off the bench, with Powell seeing 17 minutes of action and Jackson seeing just 12.

Powell scored five points (2-of-8 shooting), recorded two rebounds, dished out two assists, stole the ball once and blocked a shot. Jackson also scored five points (2-of-7), plus he recorded a singular rebound.

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Both UNC basketball freshmen on ESPN Top 50 Newcomers

Ian Jackson and Drake Powell are set for a stellar year and are among ESPN’s Top 50 transfers and freshmen.

With the men’s college basketball season on the cusp of starting, major, reputable sites are putting out an increased amount of lists and rankings. This specific list culminates the top 50 players in men’s college basketball that are either transfer to new teams or incoming freshmen.

ESPN staff writer Jeff Borzello puts two North Carolina freshmen on the list, Ian Jackson and Drake Powell.

Powell ranks No. 19 on the list led by Duke’s Cooper Flagg.

Powell has generated positive reviews early in Chapel Hill, with scouts impressed by his ability on the defensive end. He can guard multiple positions and has good instincts at that end of the floor. Powell is a projected lottery pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

Borzello also had high praise for the higher star talent in Ian Jackson who he has at No. 50 on this ranking.

UNC’s perimeter group is crowded, so it will be interesting to see Jackson’s role in the first few weeks, but he’s generated positive reviews so far. Aggressive with the ball in his hands, Jackson can get baskets in a hurry.

With the makeup of the Tar Heels roster, it is easy to see how Powell can have a more immediate impact with the frontcourt being weaker. However, both are NBA prospects and both will be very versatile under Hubert Davis this season.

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Where do pair of UNC freshmen land in updated NBA Mock Draft?

If Ian Jackson and Drake Powell head to the NBA next season, Hoops Hype likes their chances of being first-round selections.

College basketball season is so close, you can practically smell it every time you turn on the TV.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are once again a national championship contender, but this season with a different twist. What was a veteran-heavy team last year, headlined by Armando Bacot, Cormac Ryan and Harrison Ingram, is now a squad filled with young talent.

Freshman center James Brown is a key part of that youth, but the freshman headliners are Drake Powell and Ian Jackson, two five-star All-Americans in high school.

North Carolina hopes it’ll have Jackson and Powell for several years, but each are certainly talented enough to be one-and-dones. That’s why Hoops Hype’s Aggregate 2025 NBA Mock Draft lists Jackson and Powell as projected first-round picks.

Powell is mocked 13th, while Jackson is mocked 18th. Let’s see what Hoops Hype had to say about each of the Tar Heels’ freshmen stars.

“Powell is a solid two-way player with length and defensive upside, but he has to prove his shooting consistency as he continues to develop his perimeter shot,” Hoops Hype’s Cyro Asseo de Choch wrote.

“Jackson is an aggressive guard with intensity on both ends and a strong scoring ability, but he needs to shoot with more consistency to reach his full potential,” Asseo wrote.

Jackson is likely to start and Powell should, too, but North Carolina is so deep, there’s no telling who’ll start where and who comes off the bench. Jackson comes to Chapel Hill from New York, while Powell grew up 20 minutes from campus and is living his childhood dream.

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UNC freshman Ian Jackson earns praise from Andy Katz

UNC basketball freshman Ian Jackson earned some much-expected praise from Andy Katz ahead of the season.

If you don’t recognize the North Carolina Tar Heels’ 2024-2025 basketball roster, that’s because it’ll be filled with transfers and younger players.

Those transfers are highlighted by projected starters Cade Tyson and Ven-Allen Lubin, who could play anywhere from the 3-5 spots. UNC did also add an experienced forward in Georgia Tech transfer Tyzhaun Claude, though he is expected to appear off the bench.

North Carolina will sport a trio of talented freshmen in James Brown, Drake Powell and Ian Jackson, with Jackson expected to be a starter and one of the top freshmen in college basketball.

Just ask well-known college basketball analyst Andy Katz, who ranks Jackson as 10th in his list of the Top 10 freshmen in college basketball. Jackson is just behind Syracuse’s Donavan Freeman.

There’s a few other freshmen you’ll recognize on Katz’ list, most notably Duke duo Cooper Flagg and Khaman Malauch, but also Rutgers freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.

https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1838247315208856063

Jackson will likely start at small forward if Hubert Davis puts him in the starting lineup, as Elliot Cadeau and reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis occupy the starting guard spots. There’s a possibility Jackson starts at guard and Cadeau comes off the bench, but we won’t know until deeper into the offseason.

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UNC basketball duo ranked amongst college basketball’s Top 25 impact freshmen

Will UNC freshman Ian Jackson and Drake Powell live up to their preseason hype?

A major reason behind the North Carolina Tar Heels’ basketball success last year was their experienced roster.

UNC carried fifth-year senior and all-time program great Armando Bacot, ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis, plus a pair of experienced transfers in Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan.

This year, a handful of youth talent will carry North Carolina to success. That talent is headlined by Drake Powell and Ian Jackson, a pair of 5-star freshman who also doubled up as McDonalds All-Americans.

Not only are Powell and Ian Jackson two of the most talented freshmen in the ACC, but also the entire country.

Just ask college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, who named Powell and Jackson amongst his 25 impact freshmen for the upcoming college basketball season.

First, see what Rothstein said about Powell:

“Elite athlete? Check,” Rothstein said. “Elite motor? Check. Strong physical attributes? Powell has that too. 6-7 and explosive, Powell’s tenacity should complement the Tar Heels in the open floor and on defense. This is a an intriguing piece to monitor in North Carolina’s rotation.”

Second, see Rothstein’s analysis on Jackson:

“A ridiculous offensive talent, Jackson can score from all angles on the court all while giving everything he has on defense,” Rothstein said. “He’ll form an elite perimeter troika for the Tar Heels along with freshman point guard Elliot Cadeau and National Player of the Year candidate RJ Davis.”

North Carolina will be young this year, but has the potential to make another deep run. How far can the Powell-Jackson duo carry the Tar Heels?

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