During Hubert Davis’ senior season at North Carolina, he led the Tar Heels to the biggest comeback in school history,.
scoring 30 points to help erase a 22-point deficit and beat Wake Forest.
Thirty-one years later, Davis and his staff accomplished the recruiting equivalent by securing a commitment from Ian Jackson, the No. 2 overall ranked player in the 2024 class.
Jackson announced his decision Monday on national television during the Hoophall Classic. “In 2024, I’ll be headed to the University of … North Carolina at Chapel Hill,” Jackson said on the ESPNU broadcast as he revealed a UNC Basketball shirt under his jacket.
Coach Davis is hoping I can come in and find a spot similar to Caleb Love,” Jackson told Inside Carolina this week. “(He wants me to) be the guy that comes in and scores the basketball. (What) stood out to me (on the visit) was how much of a family everyone is there. The whole coaching staff played there, so it was cool how everybody is familiar with the program and the culture. It says a lot about UNC that all the former players and coaches come back to the school for their careers.”
Jackson’s stated goal is to play one year in college and then enter the NBA Draft. He said he and Davis have a “mutual understanding” about his goals and aspirations, and that their relationship is strong.
He told me he’ll do his best to make it happen,” Jackson explained. “Him having the experience of being in the NBA, him understanding what it looks like to get there — that was major for me. He’s been there, done it, had the experience, and can give me some tools to guide me through the same process. He’s a great guy, always smiling and looking to interact.”
Jackson’s calling cards are his athleticism, toughness, and competitiveness,” explained 247Sports national scouting director Adam Finklestein. “He utilizes those physical attributes to impact the game on both ends of the floor with an attacking style. He’s at his best getting downhill and putting pressure on the rim offensively, particularly in the open floor. His mentality on the defensive end of the floor was one of the things that differentiated him at an early age. He’s not only physically gifted, but highly competitive with an ability and willingness to change the game on that end of the floor.”
UNC texted Jackson on June 15, the first day coaches were allowed to communicate directly with juniors, before Hubert Davis made a scholarship offer two days later while Jackson was at USA Basketball’s U17 team tryouts. Across six games in July’s U17 World Cup, Jackson averaged 11.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game, including a tournament-high 26 points and seven rebounds against Mali. Jackson was
