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North Carolina loses 5-star freshman Ian Jackson to transfer portal, per report
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North Carolina took a potentially devastating blow for next season, as 5-star freshman guard Ian Jackson has entered the transfer portal, according to a report on Monday by Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.
Jackson was brought in to be a huge part of the immediate future for the Tar Heels as they try to return to glory. But the No. 8 overall player in the 2024 class has apparently decided that 1 season was enough in Chapel Hill. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard from the Bronx will be taking his talents elsewhere, and North Carolina will try to pick up the pieces and make up for his loss next season.
Jackson averaged 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists this past season for the Tar Heels, helping UNC sneak into the NCAA Tournament as a First Four team. Jackson committed to UNC all the way back in January of 2023 but decided that he didn’t want to pursue a long-term career in Chapel Hill.
Jackson started in 12 of 36 game appearances for the Tar Heels this season. He scored 20 points or more on 8 occasions, including in games against ranked opponents Alabama and UCLA.
Jackson received a host of offers from Division I schools as a high school recruit, according to 247Sports, including those from Arkansas, Kansas, UConn, UCLA and St. John’s.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
