5-star recruit GG Jackson sets time for college decision. What we know
Ridge View High School five-star basketball prospect GG Jackson’s college recruitment appears to be coming to an end.
The school announced Monday that Jackson will reveal his college choice Wednesday at a 3 p.m. press conference. Ridge View also is expected to reveal a banner for Jackson in honor of him being named S.C. Gatorade Player of the Year.
At 2:30 p.m. the school will officially introduce its new boys basketball and it will be AC Flora’s Joshua Staley. Staley’s hire is expected to be approved by Richland 2 school board Tuesday night.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello — while at a Nike AAU event Friday night in Indianapolis — reported via Twitter that “ Jackson says his college decision is ‘100%’ coming next week. Plans to have a press conference at his school.”
In March, Jackson listed his six final options as Auburn, Duke, Georgetown, North Carolina, South Carolina and playing professionally with the G-League. According to Borzello, UNC coach Hubert Davis and assistant Sean May as well USC coach Lamont Paris and former USC coach Frank Martin were on hand Friday in Indianapolis to watch Jackson’s CP3 team play during the second NCAA live period of the spring.
Jackson took official visits to Duke, Georgetown, South Carolina and North Carolina. G-League officials spoke with Jackson and his family in the past, and they also took a tour recently of pro option Overtime Elite.
South Carolina was believed to be the front-runner for Jackson before Martin was fired. Martin has since landed at UMass and offered him recently. Jackson met with Paris in late March.
“It went really well,” said outgoing Ridge View coach Yerrick Stoneman, who is leaving to coach Oak Hill Academy. “Coach Paris is an amazing person. I think he is going to be similar to coach (Shane) Beamer. And the community is going to get behind him, and want to be around him just because of his personality.”
Many recruiting analysts think Jackson’s decision will be between UNC and Duke. The Blue Devils have five commits already for the Class of 2023 in addition to a loaded 2022 class coming in for new coach Jon Scheyer.
The 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions for Jackson are 100% for North Carolina, with the On3 and Rivals picks heavily weighted to the Tar Heels as well.
UNC coaches Davis and Jeff Lebo flew to South Carolina and met with Jackson and his family in the days before the Tar Heels’ Final Four matchup against Duke. The Tar Heels had one off-campus visit left with Jackson and waited until then to use it.
“That was nuts. I’m thinking they have to get locked in for the game. That just goes to show you the confidence they have, and the trust they have in their players,” Jackson told Inside Carolina. “I felt really special. It opened up my eyes to how much they want me, as a school.”
With college decision imminent, Jackson will also have to decide where he will spend his final year of high school. That announcement won’t come Wednesday but is expected soon. He could stay at Ridge View and play for Staley, go to Oak Hill with Stoneman or go to another national powerhouse program.
Jackson averaged 22.9 points, 10.9 rebounds this season in leading Ridge View to the Class 5A championship. He participated in USA Basketball’s Men’s Junior National Team mini camp April 1-3 in New Orleans.
Jackson is off to a strong start for his AAU team CP3 and had 13 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in the final game this weekend.
This story was originally published April 23, 2022 at 10:35 AM.
