Jackson announces decommitment from UNC

[FeatheredCock]

Jackson announces decommitment from UNC​

July 15, 2022

6-10 GG Jackson of Ridge View Thursday night announced he has decommitted from North Carolina where he had been committed since April 27th. Jackson did not elaborate on his future plans in his statement posted to his Instagram account other than to say he plans to explore other options to help him grow and reach his goal of playing in the NBA.

This move by Jackson had been expected ever since a report by Jamie Shaw of ON3 earlier this month. Jackson’s performance at the NBA Top 100 camp, where he was named the most outstanding player, changed the trajectory of Jackson’s plans, according to Shaw.

Instead of wanting to stay in the 2023 class and stick with North Carolina, Jackson and his family decided to reclassify for the 2022 class with the idea of playing a year in college and then going into the NBA Draft. But North Carolina had no space for him, so USC, according to Shaw is the alternative.

Shaw has reported Jackson will complete his academic work to graduate early and enroll at USC for this season, though Jackson did not elaborate on his future plans in his statement.

Jackson nearly committed to the Gamecocks until Frank Martin was fired. Martin, in an interview on SportsTalk following his dismissal, said directly Jackson was coming to is program. Shaw wrote as much in is story as well.

One of the entry level pro leagues also is an option for Jackson, though he’s expected to make the one year stop with the Gamecocks before moving into the NBA Draft if all goes as planned.

Jackson has long been considered one of the nation’s top prospects, but after his showings this summer, some of the basketball analysts named him the #1 prospect in the 2023 class.

GG Jackson’s statement

 

[FurmanCock]

I guess we will soon find what size of an NIL package Columbia can pull together.

 

[doublea1971]

I guess we will soon find what size of an NIL package Columbia can pull together.

And this is why I’m still a sceptic about GG coming until I see the presser when he announces. The NIL is going to have to be HUGE to get past two things… the influencer group that has been talked about in the other thread on GG, and the fact that he’s about to shine in the Peach Jam and knows that the NBA guys will be watching. That G-League guarantee, plus knowing he can make the guaranteed money jump with a good showing. I feel like USC is being played by the family. And yes, I do realize that is cynical. But it’s not the first time USC has been left at the altar thanks to influence and $$.

 

[kingofnerf]

And this is why I’m still a sceptic about GG coming until I see the presser when he announces. The NIL is going to have to be HUGE to get past two things… the influencer group that has been talked about in the other thread on GG, and the fact that he’s about to shine in the Peach Jam and knows that the NBA guys will be watching. That G-League guarantee, plus knowing he can make the guaranteed money jump with a good showing. I feel like USC is being played by the family. And yes, I do realize that is cynical. But it’s not the first time USC has been left at the altar thanks to influence and $$.

Very much true.

I would also have expected an announcement from the school on Jackson by now given the rumors of early enrollment in a few weeks.

It's almost August and we still have two roster spots to fill.

Jackson would be a great grab if he can pull it off, but I hope Lamont hasn't put all his eggs in one basket with this kid if he doesn't commit to us.

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

 

[kingofnerf]

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

LOL

 

[Blitzkrieg]

So what is the advantage of him not announcing he's coming to SC since he's decommitted from UNC?

 

[markymark550]

Just my own speculation here, but I'm betting
1) He's waiting to see if Hubert Davis can free up a scholarship so he can reclassify and still play for UNC
and/or
2) He's really considering the G-league Ignite option. That's starting to prove to be a viable alternative to college. The last 2 drafts have had 6 Ignite players drafted (3 lottery, 1 late first round, 2 second round). I think that will only increase as the program gets more established.

 

[Longhaul]

$$$$$ is probably what this comes down to IMO.

 

[kingofnerf]

Frank's never been a one-and-done coach, but he was reinvigorated by the players on last year's squad he got out of the portal.

Wouldn't it be poetic if he went to play for Frank at UMass with Leveque and Woodley?

 

[markymark550]

With all due respect to Frank and UMass, that would be the worst option for Jackson to take if he really is trying to do the best thing for his future.

 

[doublea1971]

With all due respect to Frank and UMass, that would be the worst option for Jackson to take if he really is trying to do the best thing for his future.

Yeah, I completely agree. I still want Frank to succeed at UMass. I used to LOVE watching those guys back during the Calipari/Camby years. Would be great to see that program back on top.

All that said, there’s not much TV time for UMass right now, even with Frank Martin’s hire. GG would get SOME press, but they’re not going to be televised nationally every game, and they don’t have a network dedicated to their league like SC does. Would be a terrible move for GG.

I still am not holding my breath for him coming here either, though. The $$$ pull of the G-league is just too strong. The kid can always go back to school and get a degree. He won’t always have the chance to play pro basketball. His family wants that to happen sooner rather than later.

 

[GMB2USC23]

Yeah, I completely agree. I still want Frank to succeed at UMass. I used to LOVE watching those guys back during the Calipari/Camby years. Would be great to see that program back on top.

All that said, there’s not much TV time for UMass right now, even with Frank Martin’s hire. GG would get SOME press, but they’re not going to be televised nationally every game, and they don’t have a network dedicated to their league like SC does. Would be a terrible move for GG.

I still am not holding my breath for him coming here either, though. The $$$ pull of the G-league is just too strong. The kid can always go back to school and get a degree. He won’t always have the chance to play pro basketball. His family wants that to happen sooner rather than later.

How do you think the G league can pay him more money and offer him more exposure, the average can't name a G league team and how many G league teams get prime time TV? His NIL is valued at over 2 mil and the G league can offer 500k... He is going reclassify to go pro sooner, he wanted to play a year at USC before Martin was run off, not sure why it is such a huge jump now! Post something positive about him coming here one time maybe, he will be close to home and revered for life in the midlands by GAMECOCK fans as well as experience college before making basketball a job, see you soon GG!

 

[kingofnerf]

Jackson has been playing in the Nike Peach Jam at North Augusta this week.

G.G. Jackson seems South Carolina bound after UNC decommitment - Sports Illustrated

Jackson decommitted from North Carolina last week and many agree he's headed to South Carolina.

www.si.com

A week after backing out of his commitment to North Carolina, G.G. Jackson has gone radio silent regarding his next moves this week at the Nike Peach Jam.

Still, the deafening buzz among college coaches at Riverview Park Activities Center is that Jackson is “a done deal” to South Carolina.

“Him announcing that he’s going there is a foregone conclusion,” says an SEC assistant coach on condition of anonymity. “It’s like the worst kept secret of the summer.”

Paris and his staff have been there, too.

We'll see how it plays out.

 

[markymark550]

How do you think the G league can pay him more money and offer him more exposure, the average can't name a G league team and how many G league teams get prime time TV? His NIL is valued at over 2 mil and the G league can offer 500k... He is going reclassify to go pro sooner, he wanted to play a year at USC before Martin was run off, not sure why it is such a huge jump now! Post something positive about him coming here one time maybe, he will be close to home and revered for life in the midlands by GAMECOCK fans as well as experience college before making basketball a job, see you soon GG!

G League by itself can't offer him more, but signing with the G League doesn't mean he can't get endorsement deals. For example, a G League Ignite player just signed an endorsement with Puma that could see him get up to 8 figures. He's also projected to be a top 5 pick in next year's draft.

The exposure issue is really a moot point. Would he be a common name to casual basketball fans? No, but that could also happen if he goes to college. In reality, you have to impress just 1 of 30 GMs to get drafted. NBA teams scout the G League just as much as they do college basketball.

I think we'd all love to see Jackson in a Gamecock uniform, but I think it's a harder decision than you realize. He's supposedly making a decision after the Peach Jam, and I won't be surprised with whatever he decides. Fingers crossed!

 

[kingofnerf]

I am still used to a kid needing 2 years to learn Frank's system and I think that's true for other coaches' systems as well.

It's great if we can get GG, but I am realistic about him still needing good teammates around him as a Freshman.

For the most part, it's still about Lamont and the rest of the team against tough SEC teams for me.

That's the grain of slat here for me.

 

[FurmanCock]

It's great if we can get GG, but I am realistic about him still needing good teammates around him as a Freshman.



That's the grain of slat here for me.

Needing good teammates around him is a concern for me too. I think getting GG would be huge for the program down the line that a #1 recruit would come to the school. But for next year, I just have no idea what the talent situation will be for the team.

Grain of slat...old school CT right there!

 

[Spur's Addiction]

Grain of slat...old school CT right there!

Is that a green strip or a green stripe?

 

[GMB2USC23]

G League by itself can't offer him more, but signing with the G League doesn't mean he can't get endorsement deals. For example, a G League Ignite player just signed an endorsement with Puma that could see him get up to 8 figures. He's also projected to be a top 5 pick in next year's draft.

The exposure issue is really a moot point. Would he be a common name to casual basketball fans? No, but that could also happen if he goes to college. In reality, you have to impress just 1 of 30 GMs to get drafted. NBA teams scout the G League just as much as they do college basketball.

I think we'd all love to see Jackson in a Gamecock uniform, but I think it's a harder decision than you realize. He's supposedly making a decision after the Peach Jam, and I won't be surprised with whatever he decides. Fingers crossed!

He can sign endorsement deals thru NIL... the G League deal for Scoot Henderson is 7 figures

 

[markymark550]

He can sign endorsement deals thru NIL... the G League deal for Scoot Henderson is 7 figures

Right. He can sign endorsement deals either way. You made it sound like all he would be getting is $500K, which is not necessarily the case. If Henderson meets every part of that Puma contract, he'll get 8 figures.

 

[GMB2USC23]

Right. He can sign endorsement deals either way. You made it sound like all he would be getting is $500K, which is not necessarily the case. If Henderson meets every part of that Puma contract, he'll get 8 figures.

Yeah, when/if he gets drafted into the NBA, pretty much a no brainer but it is a multi year deal that pays him 7 figures while playing in the G League and more the higher he is drafted from what I've read. The exposure matters, NCAA high profile basket player NIL deals dwarf the G League one off historic deal. The kid at Kentucky got 2 million and a car, transfer at Miami, Peck got 800k... Jackson will make the at USC, somebody pay the man and give him a , a nice one!