KSR's Rapid Reaction to Ian Jackson picking North Carolina over Kentucky

In a recruitment battle that came down to the final pitches, Kentucky missed out on one of the nation’s top high school juniors.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, five-star class of 2024 shooting guard Ian Jackson stunned the basketball world by picking North Carolina over Kentucky at the 2023 Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., on ESPNU.

Long considered a heavy lean for the Wildcats (dating back to the beginning of his sophomore season), Jackson kept his decision incredibly tight to the vest, leaving everyone guessing until his announcement was only a few hours away. A visit to North Carolina last weekend ultimately sealed the deal as Hubert Davis picked up his biggest recruiting win during his short head coaching tenure with the Tarheels.

“Where I picked, I feel like it’s best for me. It’ll be best for me,” Jackson told KSR’s Jack Pilgrim of his decision. “Individually, I feel like in their system, I’ll thrive and be a one-and-done.”

It was undoubtedly a huge miss for the Kentucky coaching staff and it creates questions about where they go next.

So how did this all play out, and what does it mean for the future of Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class? KSR explains it all in our latest Rapid Reaction. Check it out below.

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