UNC basketball’s one-and-done guard Ian Jackson could be just hours away from revealing his next move
Jackson, a former five-star recruit out of New York, entered the transfer portal two weeks ago. Since then, he’s remained one of the most sought-after uncommitted players in the country. Now, it appears his transfer decision is right around the corner.
According to recruiting insider Adam Zagoria, Jackson is expected to make his announcement on Monday afternoon. St. John’s is widely considered the favorite to land him, although Jackson has hinted at being close to a decision since last week.
During his freshman year at UNC, Jackson posted averages of 11.9 points and 2.7 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard started 12 of the Tar Heels’ 36 games and shot an efficient 45.6 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from deep, and 72.3 percent from the free-throw line.
As of now, Jackson hasn’t declared for the NBA Draft, but he’s projected by several outlets as a potential second-round pick. He’s currently ranked No. 8 overall in the transfer portal by 247Sports.
Final Rankings Place Up to 60 Upcoming UNC Basketball Rookies
All three members of UNC basketball’s 2025 recruiting class have the potential to make a real impact in Chapel Hill
Unless the Tar Heels make a surprise late addition, head coach Hubert Davis and his staff are set to bring in a trio of highly regarded freshmen this summer. According to ESPN’s recently finalized rankings for the 2025 class, all three future Tar Heels are among the top 60 players nationally.
Leading the group is five-star power forward Caleb Wilson from Holy Innocents Episcopal School (Ga.), who ranks No. 5 overall in ESPN’s rankings—slightly higher than his spot on the 247Sports Composite, where he sits at No. 6.
Four-star combo guard Derek Dixon, out of Gonzaga College High School (D.C.), lands at No. 54 on ESPN’s list, a bit lower than his current composite ranking.
Meanwhile, in-state four-star guard Isaiah Denis from Davidson Day School checks in at No. 59 on ESPN, just above his No. 62 composite ranking.
Dixon and Denis signed with UNC during the early signing period in November, while Wilson officially joined them this month after committing in late January.
Together, they make up the No. 8-ranked recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports.
A second UNC basketball starter arrives at the portal before the deadline
UNC basketball has now seen several players opt to explore the transfer portal
On Monday morning, just under two days before the portal deadline, Tar Heels forward Ven-Allen Lubin announced his intention to enter the transfer portal.
That said, Lubin hasn’t ruled out a return to Chapel Hill for his senior season, according to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI.
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound Florida native transferred to UNC from Vanderbilt last offseason, following a freshman year at Notre Dame. After a slow start with the Tar Heels, Lubin worked his way into the starting lineup and became a steady presence in the paint. He finished the season averaging 8.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 19.6 minutes per game, shooting an impressive 68.4 percent from the field and 71.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Lubin is now the fifth UNC player to enter the portal this offseason, joining Elliot Cadeau, Jalen Washington, Ian Jackson, and Cade Tyson.
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