South Carolina landed a historic basketball commitment when five-star forward jackson announced he would commit to the Gamecocks and reclassify to the Class of 2022. Jackson, the No. 1 player in the class of 2023 according to 247Sports, becomes the highest-ranked South Carolina basketball commitment of the 247Sports era and it gives new coach Lamont Paris a considerable jolt of momentum before he’s even coached a game.
Jackson is likely to be an immediate focal point for the Gamecocks in the upcoming season, even though he will only be 17 years old for the first month of the season. At 6-foot-9 and 210 pounds, Jackson averaged 22.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game while earning South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a junior at Ridge View High School, which is just 15 miles from the California campus. South Carolina.
The commitment caps a whirlwind three months for Jackson, who first committed to North Carolina in late April as a member of the Class of 2023. He reopened his recruiting July 14writing on social media that he wanted to “explore other options”.
Jackson’s decision to stay home and play for the Gamecocks as part of the 2022 class makes him the latest high-profile hoops prospect to reclassify. Five-star prospects Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren made similar decisions at the end of last year’s draft cycle and joined Memphis’ roster. In this recruiting cycle, high-ranking guards Tyrese Proctor (Duke) and Kylan Boswell (Arizona) are among the big names following suit.
Boost for fighting cocks
For a program with limited basketball history, Jackson’s commitment will provide a considerable spark. He is South Carolina’s top-ranked commitment of the 247Sports era and joins a class that otherwise included the No. 179 and No. 231 players in the class.
Aside from an unlikely Final Four run as the No. 7 seed under former coach Frank Martin in 2017, South Carolina has made only one other NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. That Cinderella run five years ago marked the The show’s first trip beyond the first weekend of the Big Ball since 1973.
Taking the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament would require a Herculean effort on Jackson’s part, but his roster presence will be huge for the program as Paris looks to build a relevant program. Paris, 47, a former longtime Wisconsin assistant, comes to South Carolina after five seasons in Chattanooga. His career with the Mocs was capped by a 27-8 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance in the 2021-22 season.
Landing Jackson should help answer any questions about whether Paris will be able to draft well enough to compete in the SEC.
The GG Jackson projection
By reclassifying and enrolling in South Carolina for the 2022-23 season, Jackson will be eligible for next year’s NBA Draft as he turns 19 in calendar year 2023. In the midst of his move to the Class of 2022, Jackson will likely lose the title of “top-ranked prospect,” a designation Arkansas freshman guard Nick Smith currently holds for the class, according to 247Sports. That’s a small price to pay for the chance to make it to the NBA a season earlier than initially expected.
Here is an excerpt from 247Sports National Basketball Director Eric Bossi’s evaluation of Jackson’s player:
“Over the last year, Jackson has improved significantly when it comes to his skill level. He’s a more than capable jump shooter, has a good jump hook and has become a real threat to tackle and attack from the dribble. His passing has some room to grow but he has improved a lot when it comes to recognizing double teams and finding an open teammate In blocking he has an advantage due to his quickness and while his perimeter ability is what can allow him create distance between himself and other greats in the class, he has to be careful not to float around too much.When he has an even mix of inside and outside to go along with what he’s capable of running down the court in transition, Jackson is a big problem on the offensive end. Defensively, he’s ahead of the curve as well. He has great anticipation, moves well laterally, and uses his athleticism to his advantage so he’s a defender of The above average hoop that he can also defend in space if he gets caught. n a change and he has to defend a smaller player.”
Other implications
As for Jackson’s 2023 NBA Draft actions, there’s no guarantee he’ll be a big hit in college basketball. As a similarly acclaimed player in the same situation last year, Bates struggled as a freshman in Memphis and will transfer to eastern Michigan for his sophomore season. Duren, his teammate in college, went from being the No. 1 ranked player in the Class of 2022 to No. 5 after reclassifying to 2021. He was solid, but not overwhelming, for the Tigers and snuck into the lottery as the 5th player. 13th overall pick in last month’s NBA Draft.
Among the other implications that will follow Jackson’s decision will be a new No. 1 in the Top247 by 2023. dj wagnerwho was already ranked No. 1 in the 247Sports Composite, could slip into Jackson’s spot, but forward Justin Edwards is among a handful of others in the mix.