These Gamecock greats are selling the virtues of South Carolina to 5-star GG Jackson
PJ Dozier has heard all the buildup and hype surrounding GG Jackson, but he wanted to get a first-hand look for himself.
So, Dozier and Chris Silva, members of the South Carolina Gamecocks’ 2017 Final Foul basketball team, went to Ridge View High School last week to check out Jackson’s opening-round playoff game against Boiling Springs.
Dozier liked what he saw with the 6-foot-9 Jackson, who scored 18 points in the 63-38 victory. For the season, he is averaging 22 points, 11 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
“I was pretty impressed,” Dozier said Tuesday while attending the Cardinal Newman girls playoff game where his sister Asia is the head coach. “They had a blowout game, but the way he moves, his skillset, his IQ, he is on a very high level.”
After the game, Dozier and Silva spent time talking with Jackson, who is ranked No. 1 nationally by Rivals in the Class of 2023. They also talked with him Saturday at the LSU-South Carolina game.
Jackson took his official visit to campus for the game and was one of the most anticipated visitors to a USC game since Zion Williamson’s recruiting a few years ago. He also has taken official visits to Duke, Georgetown and North Carolina.
Jackson told The State on Sunday that he could possibly make a college decision in the weeks after his season concludes. Ridge View is in the state semifinals Saturday and, if they win, would play in the state championship game next Thursday.
“I shared my experience with him and allowed him to ask any questions. But at the end of the day, I hope he has fun with the process, takes his time and ultimately makes the best decision for him,” Dozier said. “I told him just follow his heart, follow his gut. It is his decision at the end of the day. He is a great kid with a great head on his shoulders, great support system and family. He’s going to be all right.”
Dozier knows what it is like to be Jackson’s shoes. He was a coveted hometown prospect coming out of Spring Valley High in 2014. The McDonald’s All-American ultimately picked USC over Louisville and other tradition-rich programs, and he’s gone on to an NBA career.
If USC beats out blue-blood programs like Duke and UNC for Jackson, it would give the program that marquee star it’s been looking for since that Final Four run with Dozier, Silva and Sindarius Thornwell.
Since then, South Carolina has missed out on other prized in-state recruits such as Williamson, Ja Morant and PJ Hall, among others.
“It definitely would be a game-changer for the program, for the city,” Dozier said. “We would definitely love to have him. I just want the best fit for him and he is going to make sure it is happens.”
This story was originally published February 24, 2022 at 9:27 AM.
