Ian Jackson, who entered the transfer portal on Monday, is ending his brief tenure with the Tar Heels after just one season. During his time at UNC, he averaged 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.6 steals per game, shooting 45.6% from the field and 39.5% from beyond the arc. Despite being a McDonald’s All-American and a player expected to be a one-and-done prospect, his NBA draft prospects didn’t materialize, and now he is exploring new opportunities for his sophomore season.
Several programs, including St. John’s, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Georgia, have expressed interest in the former Tar Heel. However, Jay Williams, a Duke legend and ESPN analyst, was baffled by Jackson’s move.
Williams speculated that Jackson’s decision might be part of a strategy to leverage the transfer portal for a better deal, posting on X (formerly Twitter) just before the NCAA National Championship game, “This could just be a play to negotiate a higher salary & leverage the marketplace…it has to be. UNC can’t let him get away.”
Despite Williams’ belief, North Carolina has indeed lost Jackson, as head coach Hubert Davis faces the challenge of retooling the program after a turbulent season. UNC barely made it into the NCAA Tournament, only to be eliminated in the Round of 64 following a First Four win. Many critics believed that Davis mishandled Jackson’s role, especially in limiting his ball-handling opportunities while veteran RJ Davis played his final season.
Now, alongside Jackson’s departure, the Tar Heels have also seen Elliot Cadeau enter the transfer portal. In response, UNC has added West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell to bolster its backcourt.
Williams’ reaction serves as a reminder that, in the world of college basketball, the transfer portal remains unpredictable, and nothing should be considered off the table.
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