5-star guard Ian Jackson intrigued with Kentucky, planning visit

When talking about the early standouts in the class of 2024, five-star guard Ian Jackson sits at or near the top of the pack. The consensus top-five prospect is widely known as the top two-way player in the class, a dog who plays with grit and intensity on both ends of the floor.

The 6-foot-5 guard out of Bronx, NY again proved his status as a high-level defender at session one of the Adidas 3SSB circuit this weekend in Noblesville, IN. An aggressive and instinctive on-ball defender who thrives in the passing lanes and as a chase-down artist in transition, Jackson is a one-man wrecking crew on that end of the floor.

He’s gifted offensively, sure, a unique combination of athleticism, quickness and wiggle. Jackson attacks the basket with force and finishes through contact or around it with touch. He’s also emerging as a confident shooter, showing off clear growth from a mechanical standpoint.

Defense, though, is where his game stands out from an elite crop of wing talent in 2024.

“My shot-making, my leadership, how I defend,” Jackson told KSR. “That’s definitely something I take pride in, my defense. I don’t think everyone does that. It’s something I definitely do, I take pride on defense. I really like to score, but defense is something not everyone can do.”

It’s a mindset Jackson developed growing up in New York, one he wears on his sleeve when he plays. He’s a confident hooper and ultimate trash-talker, but also someone who wants to let his game speak for itself.

“I think I got it where I’m from,” Jackson told KSR. “In New York, everyone is gritty. It’s just something I take pride in, nobody is going to score on me, and it’s a mentality I take with me everywhere I go.”

This time around, though, he’s playing with coaches front and center to open the Live Period. Schools are evaluating his play in person and deciding whether to offer a scholarship, making every game valuable. It’s an opportunity, though, Jackson embraces.

“It’s definitely something that’s way different,” he said. “Last year, I didn’t really get to play in front of many coaches. This year seeing all these coaches out here during this Live Period, it’s definitely something I take pride in.”

Jackson has already received scholarship offers from the likes of UConn, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Nebraska, Kansas State and Oklahoma State to open his recruitment. As a top-five prospect in the class, though, the blue bloods are circling.

“It’s going great, a lot of schools reaching out,” Jackson told KSR. “Kentucky, Duke, UCLA, they’re all reaching out to me and talking to me a little bit. It’s going good right now.”

Kentucky is a program Jackson has singled out from the start of his recruitment, a “dream school” of his growing up. The five-star guard doubled down on that interest at the 3SSB event.

“It’s a team I’ve always watched since I was a kid,” Jackson told KSR. “Coach John Calipari is someone I’ve always wanted to play for and someone I’ve always looked at as a great coach over the years I’ve been watching basketball.”

With UK associate coach Orlando Antigua leading the charge in his recruitment, Jackson is planning a visit to Lexington in the coming months.

“Yeah, probably after Live Period and everything is over,” he told KSR. “I’ll take a visit down there, probably around late July or something.”

Any other visits in the works?

“I want to take a trip over to UCLA and Duke, probably,” Jackson said. “Those are two other schools I’d like to visit.”

It’s still early and things are just now starting to ramp up, but the 6-foot-5 guard has a loose commitment timeline down the road. And it’s earlier than you might expect.

“Probably early junior year, that’s when I’d like to make a decision,” Jackson told KSR. “Probably after the school season is over, I’d like to make a decision around then about where I’m going to go.”

An early commitment lines up with some buzz about a potential reclassification to the class of 2023. He turned 17 in February, putting him on the older side among rising juniors. When you factor in his current production and continued progress, it makes sense.

Could that be a possibility for Jackson? That’s a conversation to be had at a later date. Until then, though, he’s just working to develop as a player.

“Nah, right now I’m just worried about getting better, being able to improve my game every day,” he said. “I’m not thinking about that right now.”

What is he looking to improve?

“My ball-handling can get a little better and the jump shot is coming,” Jackson told KSR. “It’s way better than what it was before, so I’m steadily improving that. That and ball-handling.”

Jackson is a standout at Cardinal Hayes High School in The Bronx. The last Wildcat to play at Cardinal Hayes? None other than Jamal Mashburn.

That one worked out pretty well for the program. Could Ian Jackson be next?