Wikipedia

GG Jackson

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).

GG Jackson
Jackson with South Carolina in 2022
No. 45 – Memphis Grizzlies
PositionSmall forward / power forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2004-12-17) December 17, 2004 (age 20)
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolRidge View
(Columbia, South Carolina)
CollegeSouth Carolina (2022–2023)
NBA draft2023: 2nd round, 45th overall pick
Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–presentMemphis Grizzlies
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship
Gold medal – first place 2022 Mexico Team

Early life and high school

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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

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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

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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

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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 14, 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]

On August 27, Jackson suffered a broken right foot and underwent surgery on September 4, delaying his start to the season by at least three months.[24]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Memphis 48 18 25.7 .428 .357 .752 4.1 1.2 .6 .5 14.6
Career 48 18 25.7 .428 .357 .752 4.1 1.2 .6 .5 14.6

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 South Carolina 32 29 31.9 .384 .324 .667 5.9 .8 .8 .8 15.4

National team

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Jackson played for the United States under-18 basketball team at the 2022 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship.[25]

References

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