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UNC Basketball Recruiting: Tar Heels’ top target now ranked No. 1 in nation

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Head Coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels directs his team against the Loyola Greyhounds during the first half of their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on November 09, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Head Coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels directs his team against the Loyola Greyhounds during the first half of their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on November 09, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The top UNC basketball recruiting target in the class of 2022 is now ranked No. 1 in the nation.

We figured it was only a matter of time and it turns out that was exactly the case. Gregory “G.G.” Jackson is officially the No. 1-ranked prospect in the country according to the latest Rivals150.

Jackson, a Ridge View High School junior, has been on an upward trajectory for some time now, and his position at the top of the list aptly reflects the way he’s performed on the court over the past several months. His dominance on both ends of the court has made him one of the most coveted recruits in the country, and he’s got no shortage of high major programs targeting him.

Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Kansas, NC State, Syracuse, Virginia and Virginia Tech are among them, so Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels obviously have their work cut out for them.

He’s visited with the UNC coaching staff on a number of occasions and recently met with Duke’s Jon Scheyer, Chris Carrawell, and Nolan Smith. The neighboring blue blood programs are both considered to be in the running for a commitment. Jackson’s hometown South Carolina Gamecocks have been involved in his recruitment since very early on, and should also be considered a major player.

The Tar Heels seem to be in good shape, though, and are still looked at by many as the favorite for Jackson’s commitment. Rivals national recruiting analyst Travis Graf has picked North Carolina as Jackson’s eventual landing spot, as have all four analysts and insiders from 247Sports.

But as North Carolina fans well know, particularly thanks to the past nine or 10 recruiting cycles, none of this means anything until Jackson puts on that UNC cap at his commitment ceremony. And while they did get close with guys like Nassir Little and Cole Anthony — ranked third and fourth in 2018 and 2019, respectively — the guys in that top spot have eluded them in recent history.

So, this could be the Tar Heels’ best chance to snag a top-rated recruit since they reeled in Harrison Barnes back in 2010. They’ve been in the running for a number of top recruits in the years since but failed to convert, sometimes in the eleventh hour.

It may still be a few months before we get a decision out of Jackson, as he appears to be taking his time and carefully going through the process before making anything official. We’ll continue to follow his recruitment in the meantime and keep fans apprised of any developments.

Next. UNC commit shooting up the recruiting ranks. dark

Stick with Keeping It Heel for more on the G.G. Jackson recruitment, as well as all the latest news, views and rumors on UNC basketball recruiting.

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