GG Jackson

Gregory "GG" Jackson II (born December 17, 2004) is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. He played college basketball South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

GG Jackson
Jackson with South Carolina in 2022
No. 45 – Memphis Grizzlies
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2004-12-17) December 17, 2004
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolRidge View
(Columbia, South Carolina)
CollegeSouth Carolina (2022–2023)
NBA draft2023: 2nd round, 45th overall pick
Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–presentMemphis Grizzlies
2023–present→Memphis Hustle
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship
Gold medal – first place2022 MexicoTeam

Early life and high school

Jackson grew up in Columbia, South Carolina and attended Ridge View High School.[1] As a sophomore, he averaged 15.8 points and 10 rebounds as Ridge View won the South Carolina Class 5A State Championship.[2] Jackson was named the South Carolina Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 22.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game and leading the Blazers to a second straight state title in his junior season.[3]

Recruitment

Jackson was rated a five-star recruit and was the consensus best collegiate prospect for the 2023 recruiting class. He initially committed to play college basketball at North Carolina (UNC) shortly after the conclusion of his junior season after considering offers from Auburn, Duke, Georgetown, and South Carolina.[4][5] Jackson later decommitted from UNC, becoming the first player to do so since J. R. Smith in 2003.[6] He ultimately reclassified to the class of 2022 and enrolled at South Carolina.[7][8] Jackson's commitment made him the highest-ranked recruit in school history.[9]

College career

Jackson entered his freshman season at South Carolina as the Gamecocks' starting power forward.[10] He was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Week for the first week of the season after averaging 15 points and nine rebounds in his first two career games.[11] Jackson was benched after shooting 0-for-8 and scoring no points in an 85–42 loss to Tennessee.[12] In the following game he scored 16 points off the bench in a 71–68 win over Kentucky.[13] Jackson finished the season as the Gamecocks' leading scorer with 15.4 points per game and also led the team with 26 blocks and 24 steals.[14] Following the end of the season he entered the 2023 NBA draft.[15]

Professional career

Jackson was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 45th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA draft,[16] subsequently joining the team for the 2023 NBA Summer League. On August 31, 2023, he signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies, splitting time with their NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.[17]

National team

Jackson played for the United States under-18 basketball team at the 2022 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship.[18]

References
  1. Branham, Travis (July 30, 2020). "2023 PF G.G. Jackson emerges as a high major prospect". 247Sports. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  2. Bezjak, Lou (June 22, 2021). "Where SC top basketball prospects stand in recruiting". The State. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  3. Adams, Emily (October 12, 2022). "How freshman star GG Jackson fits with South Carolina men's basketball". The Greenville News. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  4. Fowler, Chapel (April 27, 2022). "5-star recruit GG Jackson commits to UNC basketball with Hubert Davis". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  5. Cobb, David (April 27, 2022). "UNC basketball recruiting: GG Jackson, five-star forward in 2023 class, commits to Tar Heels". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  6. Borzello, Jeff (July 14, 2022). "No. 6 prospect G.G. Jackson becomes first recruit to decommit from North Carolina men's basketball program since 2003". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  7. Borzello, Jeff (July 23, 2022). "Former North Carolina Tar Heels basketball commit G.G. Jackson reclassifies to 2022 class, commits to South Carolina Gamecocks". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  8. Borzello, Jeff (August 3, 2022). "Can G.G. Jackson make South Carolina men's basketball relevant again? Coaches and scouts weigh in". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  9. Marks, Brendan (July 23, 2022). "GG Jackson commits to South Carolina after reclassifying to Class of 2022". The Athletic. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  10. Lananna, Michael (November 2, 2022). "GG Jackson has 'the hardest job in all of America,' yet he smiles through it all". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  11. Lyon, Andrew (November 15, 2022). "GG Jackson Named SEC Freshman Of The Week". SI.com. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  12. Lananna, Michael (January 9, 2022). "Which GG Jackson will show up for USC at Kentucky? Paris trying to push right buttons". The Island Packet. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  13. Cloninger, David (January 12, 2022). "GG Jackson rebounds from benching with 16 points in upset of Kentucky". Post and Courier. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  14. Lananna, Michael (March 15, 2023). "Offseason primer: A closer look at Lamont Paris' USC roster as transfer season begins". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  15. "South Carolina's leading scorer Jackson heads to NBA draft". Associated Press. March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  16. Lananna, Michael (June 23, 2023). "South Carolina's GG Jackson slides in NBA Draft: a long wait but 'a huge blessing'". The State. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  17. "Memphis Grizzlies sign GG Jackson II to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. August 31, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  18. Anderson, Reggie (June 3, 2022). "GG Jackson earns a spot on USA U18 National Team". WLTX. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
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