UNC Basketball: Elite recruit talks Tar Heels, top contenders

Five-star power forward Gregory Jackson discusses his relationship with the UNC basketball program, and other contenders in his high-profile recruitment.

The recruitment of Gregory Jackson is among the most publicized and high-profile in the class of 2023, and that’s not likely to change any time soon.

A 6-foot-8, 210-pound power forward from Columbia, South Carolina, Jackson is one of the nation’s top players not only at his position, but overall. That’s evidenced by the number of scholarship offers that he’s already holding onto — around 20 at the moment.

His offer sheet includes programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, NC State, South Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia Tech. But along with the aforementioned are offers from Duke, Kansas, North Carolina and Virginia, among others. In other words, the rising Ridge View High School senior may soon be deciding between the majority of college basketball’s top programs.

And it makes sense when you look at what Jackson is expected to bring to the table at the college level. Along with his great size and length, Jackson offers a versatile skill set that includes solid ball-handling, a developing jump shot, and an interior game that is difficult to guard. He’s also got good speed running up and down the court, and can beat his defender off the dribble. All of that, and Jackson still has room to grow, both in skill and in size.

Jackson has been frequently visited by most of the schools on his list, and he’s taken trips to see a handful of them as well. He’s already got visits to Clemson, North Carolina, NC State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest under his belt, and more will come in the months ahead.

He spoke specifically about the Tar Heels in a recent interview with Rivals’ Jamie Shaw, noting the importance that the North Carolina coaching staff has put on his recruitment.

"“(Assistant) coach (Jeff) Lebo and coach (Hubert) Davis have been the ones recruiting me, and they have been good to me,” Jackson said. “When they came to see me the other day they told me I was their No. 1 priority, so that made me feel pretty good.”"

The Tar Heels offered Jackson in June, and got a visit from him the same month. He’s definitely a position of need for North Carolina in the coming seasons, as the Tar Heels will bid farewell to Armando Bacot either this season or the next, and sophomore big man Dawson Garcia could easily be gone by then, too.

Jackson is currently the No. 16 prospect in the class of 2023 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s third among power forwards in the class, and No. 1 in the state of South Carolina. He’s even higher in the Rivals150 at No. 10 overall.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the Gregory Jackson recruitment, as well as everything UNC basketball.