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What is UNC getting with 5-star Ian Jackson

On3 imageby:Jamie Shaw•01/16/23•

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2024 Ian Jackson at the Pangos All-American camp (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Ian Jackson surprised many on Monday when he committed to North Carolina. For a long period of time, the presumed leader in the five-star guard’s recruitment was Kentucky.

Jackson is the fourth commitment in UNC’s 2024 class, joining Elliot Cadeau, James Brown, and Drake Powell.

What is UNC getting

Ian Jackson is a competitive guard who plays tough on both ends of the floor. The five-star is capable of creating his own shot off the bounce. He is aggressive in getting downhill in the half-court and is able to take a bump in the paint.

Jackson’s confidence in his jump shot has also developed recently. Much of his scoring comes off the bounce, either getting in rhythm or with the pull-up. He is also capable of getting his team into sets.

While he is at his best hunting shots, and the passing reads may not be natural, he is able to initiate offense or act as a secondary ball handler.

Jackson on defense

Jackson is a tough-nosed defensive player. He has quick feet, able to slide at the point of attack, but he also has the aggression to make it tough to touch the paint against him. Like many high school players, he will need to continue learning the angles and footwork with team defense; there is a lot of two-way upside here.

UNCs 2024 class

Already with their fourth player in the class, UNC is putting together pieces that fit.

Jackson joins five-star point guard Elliot Cadeau. Cadeau is a quick and confident paint touch lead guard. Drake Powell is a four-star wing who is an excellent defender, and while he is not as explosively athletic as these two, he is in the connective mold of a Theo Pinson or JP Tokoto. Four-star post James Brown is a bruiser on the block who goes and gets rebounds and finishes at the rim.

The interesting piece of this class will be if they all stay in 2024, as Elliot Cadeau and Ian Jackson could both be eligible to reclassify.