Ian Jackson is expected to visit St. John’s this weekend, and when that news broke earlier this week, many believed the former UNC basketball guard was almost certain to commit to Rick Pitino’s squad.
That assumption made sense — Jackson, a Bronx native, would be returning to his hometown area.
However, a new development has introduced a surprise twist in his recruitment.
According to a Friday report from the New York Post’s Zach Braziller, Jackson is actually making another official visit before heading to St. John’s. He’s currently spending time in Los Angeles with USC head coach Eric Musselman and his staff.
As Braziller pointed out, Musselman previously pursued Jackson while coaching at Arkansas during Jackson’s high school recruitment, and it appears that connection still holds weight.
A former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American, Jackson originally committed to Hubert Davis and UNC, but the relationship with Musselman remains strong.
At 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, the freshman guard showed glimpses of his high potential during his time in Chapel Hill, averaging 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists. A move to USC could give him a bigger role and more opportunity to shine.
Meanwhile, Jackson’s departure is part of a broader offseason shakeup for UNC, which has now seen four players enter the transfer portal, including forward Cade Tyson (who joined on Friday), Elliot Cadeau, and Jalen Washington.
Leave a Reply