GG Jackson explained

GG Jackson
Position:Small forward / power forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:9
Weight Lbs:210
League:NBA
Team:Memphis Grizzlies
Number:45
Birth Place:Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
High School:Ridge View
(Columbia, South Carolina)
College:South Carolina (2022–2023)
Draftyear:2023
Draftround:2
Draftpick:45
Draftteam:Memphis Grizzlies
Career Start:2023
Years1:–present
Team1:Memphis Grizzlies
Years2:2023–2024
Team2:Memphis Hustle
Highlights:

Gregory "GG" Jackson II (born December 17, 2004) is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Early life and high school

Jackson grew up in Columbia, South Carolina and attended Ridge View High School.[1] As a sophomore, he averaged 15.8 points and 10 rebounds as Ridge View won the South Carolina Class 5A State Championship.[2] Jackson was named the South Carolina Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 22.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game and leading the Blazers to a second straight state title in his junior season.[3]

Recruitment

Jackson was rated a five-star recruit and was the consensus best collegiate prospect for the 2023 recruiting class. He initially committed to play college basketball at North Carolina (UNC) shortly after the conclusion of his junior season after considering offers from Auburn, Duke, Georgetown, and South Carolina.[4] [5] Jackson later decommitted from UNC, becoming the first player to do so since J. R. Smith in 2003.[6] He ultimately reclassified to the class of 2022 and enrolled at South Carolina.[7] [8] Jackson's commitment made him the highest-ranked recruit in school history.[9]

College career

Jackson entered his freshman season at South Carolina as the Gamecocks' starting power forward.[10] He was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Week for the first week of the season after averaging 15 points and nine rebounds in his first two career games.[11] Jackson was benched after shooting 0-for-8 and scoring no points in an 85–42 loss to Tennessee.[12] In the following game he scored 16 points off the bench in a 71–68 win over Kentucky.[13] Jackson finished the season as the Gamecocks' leading scorer with 15.4 points per game and also led the team with 26 blocks and 24 steals.[14] Following the end of the season he entered the 2023 NBA draft.[15]

Professional career

Jackson was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 45th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA draft,[16] subsequently joining the team for the 2023 NBA Summer League. On August 31, 2023, he signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies, splitting time with their NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.[17]

Extensive injuries to the Grizzlies roster during the 2023-24 season led to the team recalling Jackson from the Hustle. On February 8, 2024, Jackson scored a then-career-high 27 points during a 118–110 loss to the Chicago Bulls, which led to the Grizzlies signing Jackson to a four-year contract the following day.[18] [19] On March 10, Jackson made his starting debut for the Grizzlies against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he would score 30 points in a 124-93 loss.[20] On March 20, Jackson scored 35 points with seven three-point shots made in a 137-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to make seven threes in a game.[21] In the regular season finale on April 14th, Jackson scored a career-high 44 points and recorded 12 rebounds in a 111-126 loss to the Denver Nuggets, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record 40 points and 10 rebounds in a game.[22] His 44 points also set the record for the most points by a rookie in Grizzlies franchise history.[23]

Career statistics

NBA

|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Memphis| 48 || 18 || 25.7 || .428 || .357 || .752 || 4.1 || 1.2 || .6 || .5 || 14.6|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 48 || 18 || 25.7 || .428 || .357 || .752 || 4.1 || 1.2 || .6 || .5 || 14.6

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"|2022–23| style="text-align:left;"|South Carolina| 32 || 29 || 31.9 || .384 || .324 || .667 || 5.9 || .8|| .8 || .8 || 15.4

National team

Jackson played for the United States under-18 basketball team at the 2022 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship.[24]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023 PF G.G. Jackson emerges as a high major prospect. Travis. Branham. 247Sports. July 30, 2020. November 11, 2022.
  2. Web site: Bezjak . Lou . June 22, 2021 . Where SC top basketball prospects stand in recruiting . November 11, 2022 . The State.
  3. Web site: Adams . Emily . October 12, 2022 . How freshman star GG Jackson fits with South Carolina men's basketball . November 11, 2022 . The Greenville News.
  4. Web site: Fowler . Chapel . April 27, 2022 . 5-star recruit GG Jackson commits to UNC basketball with Hubert Davis . November 11, 2022 . The Fayetteville Observer.
  5. Web site: UNC basketball recruiting: GG Jackson, five-star forward in 2023 class, commits to Tar Heels. David. Cobb. CBS Sports. April 27, 2022. November 11, 2022.
  6. Web site: No. 6 prospect G.G. Jackson becomes first recruit to decommit from North Carolina men's basketball program since 2003. Jeff. Borzello. ESPN.com. July 14, 2022. November 11, 2022.
  7. Web site: Former North Carolina Tar Heels basketball commit G.G. Jackson reclassifies to 2022 class, commits to South Carolina Gamecocks. Jeff. Borzello. ESPN.com. July 23, 2022. November 11, 2022.
  8. Web site: Can G.G. Jackson make South Carolina men's basketball relevant again? Coaches and scouts weigh in. Jeff. Borzello. ESPN.com. August 3, 2022. November 11, 2022.
  9. Web site: GG Jackson commits to South Carolina after reclassifying to Class of 2022. Brendan. Marks. The Athletic. July 23, 2022. November 11, 2022.
  10. Web site: Lananna . Michael . November 2, 2022 . GG Jackson has ‘the hardest job in all of America,’ yet he smiles through it all . November 11, 2022 . Charlotte Observer.
  11. Web site: GG Jackson Named SEC Freshman Of The Week. Andrew. Lyon. SI.com. November 15, 2022. November 18, 2022.
  12. Web site: Lananna . Michael . January 9, 2022 . Which GG Jackson will show up for USC at Kentucky? Paris trying to push right buttons . January 13, 2022 . The Island Packet.
  13. Web site: Cloninger . David . January 12, 2022 . GG Jackson rebounds from benching with 16 points in upset of Kentucky . January 12, 2022 . Post and Courier.
  14. Web site: Lananna . Michael . March 15, 2023 . Offseason primer: A closer look at Lamont Paris’ USC roster as transfer season begins . March 16, 2023 . Charlotte Observer.
  15. Web site: South Carolina’s leading scorer Jackson heads to NBA draft. Associated Press. March 24, 2023. March 24, 2023.
  16. Web site: Michael. Lananna. South Carolina’s GG Jackson slides in NBA Draft: a long wait but ‘a huge blessing’. The State. June 23, 2023. June 23, 2023.
  17. Web site: Memphis Grizzlies sign GG Jackson II to Two-Way Contract. NBA.com. August 31, 2023. September 3, 2023.
  18. Web site: Memphis Grizzlies sign GG Jackson II to Multi-Year Contract. NBA.com. February 9, 2024. February 9, 2024.
  19. Web site: 2024-02-09 . Grizzlies’ GG Jackson rewarded with standard contract after historic performance . 2024-03-25 . Yahoo Sports . en-US.
  20. Web site: Griffin . Joseph . 2024-03-11 . GG Jackson Has Career High Night In First NBA Start . 2024-03-25 . Sports Illustrated South Carolina Gamecocks News, Analysis and More . en.
  21. Web site: 2024-03-21 . Basketball Pickups: GG Jackson continues scoring binge on Wednesday . 2024-03-25 . NBC Sports . en-US.
  22. Web site: Chawla . Arya . 2024-04-15 . G.G. Jackson Erupts For 44 Points In Final Game As Rookie . 2024-04-16 . NBA Draft Digest - Latest Draft News and Prospect Rankings . en.
  23. Web site: GG Jackson's historic scoring outburst draws rave Grizzlies reviews. ClutchPoints. Villas. Rexwell. April 14, 2024. April 17, 2024.
  24. Web site: GG Jackson earns a spot on USA U18 National Team. Reggie. Anderson. WLTX. June 3, 2022. November 11, 2022.