North Carolina's strong start with the 2023 recruiting class continued with a bang on Wednesday, when five-star power forward GG Jackson announced his commitment to the Tar Heels. Jackson chose UNC over Auburn, Duke, Georgetown, South Carolina and professional options.
With Jackson committed, North Carolina now has two five-star commitments for the 2023 class, as he joins combo guard Simeon Wilcher in the group. Jackson is ranked the No. 5 player in the class by the 247Sports Composite but is a candidate to finish as the No. 1 overall player in the class, according to 247Sports national basketball analyst Travis Branham.
The 6-9 native of Columbia, South Carolina, ranks as the top player to commit to UNC so far during Hubert Davis' tenure as coach. Davis just led the Tar Heels to an appearance in the national title game in his first season succeeding Roy Williams, who retired after the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
"I chose them because they showed how I was the No. 1 priority in the class of 2023 and because coach [Hubert] Davis is an African American coach who knows what he is doing," Jackson told 247Sports.
"The Tar Heel program was a dream school for not only GG, but his father."
— 247Sports (@247Sports) April 27, 2022
🐏 @TravisBranham_ breaks down 5⭐️ GG Jackson's commitment to Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels 🐏 pic.twitter.com/Z8RBYzKVTP
Jackson projects as a potential future lottery pick and has shown glimpses of positional versatility to go along with the skills of an athletic big man. Here is a portion of the scouting report on Jackson from 247Sports national basketball director Eric Bossi:
Pushing 6-foot-9, Jackson has an ideal basketball frame. He's got long arms and a wiry build that will allow him to add needed strength without costing him athleticism and make no mistake, athleticism is a big part of his game. Jackson is able to fly around the court thanks to his ability to accelerate, change directions and get off the floor in a hurry in tight spaces. Though he still has to get stronger, his athleticism is all functional and he's able to play through contact and doesn't need a runway in order to take off. While his athleticism is an important part of his game and what helps to separate him from the pack, he doesn't have to rely on it.
