Ian Jackson has entered the transfer portal after one season with UNC basketball.
A former five-star recruit from the Bronx in New York, Jackson averaged 11.9 points per game as one of the Tar Heels’ most explosive scorers at times throughout the season. The 6-foot-4 guard reached 20 or more points in eight games, including four straight with 23 or more points to become the first UNC freshman to accomplish that feat.
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A member of the All-ACC freshman team, Jackson had a career-high 27 points in UNC’s win at Notre Dame to cap a four-game stretch in which he averaged 25 points. He’s the third Tar Heel to enter the transfer portal, joining guard Elliot Cadeau (Michigan) and center Jalen Washington (Vanderbilt).
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Here’s what Jackson’s departure means for him and for the Tar Heels moving into in the 2025-26 season.
The second-leading scorer for the Tar Heels behind RJ Davis, Jackson appeared in 36 games, starting 12. He averaged 2.7 rebounds and made 45.6% of his shots, including a 39.5% clip from 3-point range. One of the top-ranked recruits in the 2024 class, Jackson picked UNC over Kentucky, Arkansas, LSU and Oregon. St. John’s was also in the mix for Jackson, who was expected to be one-and-done freshman before entering the NBA Draft. Players have until April 26 to enter the draft, so that remains an option for Jackson. Current projections have him being picked in the mid-to-late first round or second round.
With Jackson, Cadeau and Davis gone, UNC’s lone returner in the backcourt could be Seth Trimble. Incoming freshman Derek Dixon and Isaiah Denis are set to join the 2025-26 roster, as is West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell. The transfer portal closes on April 22, so fifth-year coach Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels have time to figure out their plan for guards ahead of next season. Jackson was an explosive scorer in stretches for UNC, but he struggled down the stretch, shooting 21.4% in five postseason games. He had multiple assists in eight of 36 games. No matter how you view the departure, UNC will need to find a scoring guard ahead of next season.
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Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What Ian Jackson entering transfer portal means for UNC basketball
