UNC Basketball: Could 2023 commit GG Jackson leave for South Carolina?

Coming back home to South Carolina

For those who don’t know why the Gamecocks would even be in the conversation, Jackson hails from Columbia, South Carolina, making the program the defacto “hometown” option in his recruitment. And with his mother attending the school, he’s a “legacy” recruit as well. Before the end of last season, the SEC program was rumored to be in the lead for his services but that changed when head coach Frank Martin was let go.

After that, the Gamecocks were out of the picture and soon after, Jackson committed to North Carolina just miles away. Since then, South Carolina has gotten things together, hiring Chattanooga head coach and rising star Lamont Paris, who did reach out to Jackson after being hired.

Have things changed between the sides? The Gamecocks have landed several newcomers from the transfer portal, including Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk from Illinois and Hayden Brown from The Citadel to bolster the frontcourt. But the roster still lacks a star, especially inside.

Besides being able to play at home, the Gamecocks can allow Jackson to come in immediately and be a star and focal point of the option. The SEC is a great place to showcase his skills against some of the other top players in the league. And there’s a history of top prospects playing for non-blue bloods and still ending up as top-3 picks in the NBA Draft, including Evan Mobley (USC), Anthony Edwards (Georgia), and Cade Cunningham (OK State).

Jackson could follow that route if he wants to and play in front of family. And Coach Paris has a good history of developing players and if the recruit’s team trusts him, could very well land the ultimate prospect in his first offseason at South Carolina.

Right now, it’s all rumors and smoke but when there is smoke, a fire sometimes breaks out and when NCAA Basketball is at its quietest, that’s usually when something big comes out of nowhere to shake up the sport.