UNC Basketball recruit has banner weekend in NYC Overtime Elite League
The UNC basketball program scored a major victory when they signed one of the best high school players in the nation, Ian Jackson, out of Centereach, New York. The Tar Heels beat out some notable programs, including Kentucky for Jackson's services, as the future Tar Heel has been showing New York City Overtime Elite League what he can do before heading to Chapel Hill next summer.
Jackson is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who is ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the nation according to 247Sports. He made his presence felt on Friday night even as his NYC Jellyfam team lost to the OTE Cold Hearts, a team that boasts Purdue recruit Kanon Catchings and Missouri recruit Peyton Marshall. Jackson led all scorers with 28 points on 12-for-24 shooting.
On Sunday, Jackson led Jellyfam to a 90-76 win over Diamond Elites with 33 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and five steals. The official Overtime Elite X/Twitter account essentially stood up and applauded at Jackson's statline.
Jackson verbally committed to UNC Basketball in January, formally signing with the Tar Heels in November. In an interview with Rob Cassidy of Rivals.com at the Wootten 150 Camp in Las Vegas in October, Jackson openly promised to bring a national championship to Chapel Hill.
Jackson also revealed something that makes his gaudy numbers even more remarkable. As a child, he walked with a considerable limp due to groin pains. His coach couldn't help but notice that he looked like "the pirates with the wooden leg"--hence his nickname, Captain Jack.
In the first day of that camp, according to Cassidy, Jackson was strong on both ends of the court. He was particularly impressed with Jackson's shooting, saying that "when (his) shot is falling, he's one of the more complete offensive weapons in high school basketball."
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