Lamont Paris unsure of GG Jackson’s future beyond 2022-23 season

Saturday was Senior Day for South Carolina, but many wondered whether it could also be the final home game for freshman GG Jackson. The 6-foot-9 forward is a projected first-round draft pick according to ESPN, and has a decision to make on his future as the season comes to a close.

However, when coach Lamont Paris was asked about the possibility of Jackson leaving for the NBA, he gave no indication either way.

“I don’t know,” he said postgame. “I’m not really at liberty or think — I haven’t thought too much about that to be quite honest with you. Guys have opportunities and they work hard for those opportunities. Should opportunities present themselves to him and he decides to do that, I’m his No. 1 fan. Well, maybe the No. 1 fan that’s not related to him. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. We’ve got more basketball to play.”

A Columbia native, Jackson turned down offers from blue bloods such as Duke and North Carolina to stay home and play for the Gamecocks. He was a five-star prospect who ranked as the No. 8 overall prospect and the No. 2 power forward according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

GG Jackson has started in 27 of 30 games this season to lead South Carolina with 15.3 points per game in addition to six rebounds per game. However, the Gamecocks finished 12th in the conference with an 11-20 (4-14 SEC) record.

Jackson finished with nine points, five rebounds and two blocks Saturday as South Carolina claimed 61-55 victory against Georgia. Paris also added after the game that he believes the festivities game was much more about the actual seniors such as Hayden Brown, who scored 13 points.

“I don’t think this was necessarily symbolic for (Jackson),” Paris said. “Just nationally it’s been a senior-type deal. It’s more a senior thing because of the wars that a person has been through. While Hayden Brown’s weren’t all here at South Carolina, this guy’s been through a lot in six years of playing college basketball. It’s more about that. GG’s thing — or anybody else on our team that may have opportunities will come once the season’s over.”

The 2023 NBA Draft is set for June 22, so Jackson will have to make his decision soon. Before that, South Carolina head to the SEC Tournament where it will face Ole Miss at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday.