UNC Basketball: Ian Jackson discusses Kentucky, being a one-and-done, and more on The Captain Jack Podcast
The McDonald’s All-American provided good insight into why he decided to become a Tar Heel.
Fun fact: I was today years old when I learned that pre-college basketball players have their own podcasts. Players sitting in front of a mic to discuss their love of basketball, pop culture, and even their personal lives in some cases, has become pretty popular these days. Why do I bring this up? Because I was also today years old when I I found out that Ian Jackson, the incoming freshman at UNC, does a podcast named The Captain Jack Podcast. Recently, he talked about how he originally intended to play basketball for Kentucky in college but ultimately decided to commit to the Tar Heels.
When Jackson was asked why he decided on UNC and what motivated him to play for the Wildcats in the past, he stated the following:
When asked why he chose UNC, Jackson replied, “Hubert Davis.” “I desired to visit Kentucky. Hubert Davis was the one. He is a typical family man. You want to be around someone as decent and sincere as him. Not that John Calipari, the coach, isn’t. Coach Davis is an excellent mentor.
Players discussing their “dream schools” after committing to other programs is definitely not a new development in college basketball, but what is interesting here is that Jackson has every intention of being a one-and-done player but chose to play for Hubert Davis anyway. This isn’t to say that Davis doesn’t know a thing or two about the NBA, what it takes for players to get there, and what players should expect, but he also doesn’t have the resume that John Calipari has when it comes to getting players in the league. This is mostly because of how new of a head coach he is, but the 2024-25 season presents an opportunity to get 2-3 players into the league, including Jackson.
Jackson’s willingness to trust Hubert Davis is a development that should go a long way in helping them recruit future five-star players, but obviously he has to prove he can produce one-and-done players at the end of the day. Thankfully Jackson and Davis have already discussed the ultimate goal and how to make it happen.
“[Coach Davis] understands what I want to do,” Jackson said. “He knows my plan. He’s like, ‘Alright, I’m with it.
Let’s leave you right here. You come here, take care of this and that, and leave. I could score 15–16 points a game on average. However, averaging 18 (ppg) is not difficult.
As a freshmen at UNC, it will be interesting to see what Jackson can achieve. The way Hubert Davis’s minutes are distributed with RJ Davis will be very intriguing to watch, but in the end, it’s a terrific problem to have. (RJ) Davis had to carry the team through so many pivotal moments during the previous season that his one poor performance against Alabama caused everything to fall apart. Jackson is a player who may easily increase his score—something he has discussed on his
“I consider [making my UNC debut] on a daily basis,” Jackson stated. “I’m approaching college with the belief that basketball is the hardest sport ever.” I will train really hard when I get there. I don’t want to enter there believing that just because it’s high school, I can accomplish this or that. I want to overanxiety myself, so I think, “Maybe this isn’t that bad,” as I enter. I refuse to become modest.
What are your thoughts on Jackson’s remarks? What do you anticipate from him this autumn as well? Tell us in the comments section below.
