5-Star PF GG Jackson Decommits from UNC amid South Carolina Rumors
July 14, 2022
5-star power forward GG Jackson, who 247Sports ranks as the top prospect in the men's basketball class of 2023, announced on social media that he has decided to decommit from North Carolina.
Earlier Thursday, Travis Branham of 247Sports reported that Jackson planned to decommit from UNC and enroll early at South Carolina.
"According to multiple sources, Jackson is expected to decommit from North Carolina and enroll early at hometown South Carolina—an announcement that is expected to come in the next two weeks," Branham wrote.
Jackson plays high school ball at Ridge View in Columbia, South Carolina, the home of the Gamecocks.
Like 247Sports, Rivals also ranks the 6'9", 210-pound Jackson first, and the same goes for On3. ESPN ranks Jackson sixth on its 2023 prospects list.
Losing Jackson is a tough loss for the Tar Heels, although they still have another 5-star prospect coming to town in 2023 in Roselle Catholic (New Jersey) combo guard Simeon Wilcher, ranked 14th in 247Sports' composite rankings.
UNC head coach Hubert Davis is also bringing in a deep class of 2022 with a quartet of 4-star recruits.
The Heels' loss would be South Carolina's huge gain.
The Gamecocks made the Final Four in 2017 as a No. 7 seed, but they haven't made the NCAA tournament since. SC is now under the leadership of a new coach with Frank Martin out and ex-Chattanooga leader Lamont Paris in.
Paris just led the Mocs to a 27-win season, an NCAA tournament berth and a near first-round upset over No. 4 Illinois, and his tenure in South Carolina will get off to a tremendous start if he's officially able to land Jackson.