As soon as Ian Jackson's name hit the transfer portal (and quite frankly, even before that), one team skyrocketed to the top of the list of potential suitors for the former five-star freshman.
St. John's.
A Bronx, New York native, Jackson has been heavily linked to Rick Pitino and the Johnnies. Now, things appear to be heating up, as Jackson will make a visit to St. John's on Sunday and Monday.
Sources: North Carolina transfer Ian Jackson will visit St. John’s on Sunday and Monday.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 10, 2025
Jackson's first scheduled visit might just be his lone visit, as it seems like the connection between the two is more than just speculation. Looking to make a big splash this offseason, Pitino would do just that if he can bring Jackson back home, working to tap into the star-studded potential that made Jackson such a highly sought-after high school recruit.
In what is expected to be his lone season in Chapel Hill, Jackson averaged 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds per game over 36 games (12 starts). He went on an absolute scoring tear from December 21 to January 15, putting together six 20+ point outings over seven games, including a 27-point outburst against Notre Dame. During that stretch, Jackson looked like a sure-fire first-round NBA Draft pick, but as the season went on, his role significantly decreased and his production dropped to the point where he wasn't even included in most mock drafts.
A fresh start could be good for Jackson, especially returning to play closer to home. St. John's was always an intriguing landing spot for Jackson, especially with Pitino at the helm, as there was some speculation he would flip his commitment before even making his way to Chapel Hill.
That didn't happen, but a pairing between Ian Jackson and St. John's seems to be a very strong possibility this offseason.
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