Grizzlies pick up GG Jackson midway through Round 2
With the No. 45 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies selected forward Gregory "GG" Jackson out of South Carolina.
Jackson was a touted five-star prospect in high school when he reclassified to enter college a year early. After decommitting from North Carolina, he pledged to join the Gamecocks and became the highest-rated recruit in the program's history.
Jackson displayed flashes of incredible talent at South Carolina but also showed several examples of inexperience, which was to be expected at his young age. Despite Jackson's flaws, the polarizing freshman led an underwhelming squad in scoring and ranked second in rebounding. He also boasted a 30.8% usage rate - the second-highest mark on the team and a tall ask for someone playing in the SEC as a high school senior, essentially. Jackson's all-around offensive style and athleticism indicate he has the tools to succeed as a pro. However, he'll likely be a long-term project for any team hoping to work out his inconsistencies.
Bio
Position: Forward
School: South Carolina
College experience: Freshman
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 214 lbs
Wingspan: 7 feet
Max vertical: 37 inches
2022-23 stats with South Carolina
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 38.4 | 32.4 | 67.7 | 5.9 | 0.8 | 15.4 |
Strengths
- Excels at creating space for his own shot; can take on defenders 1-on-1 with strong dribble for his size and smooth mid-range pull-up game.
- One of the youngest players in the draft; won't turn 19 until December.
- Operates really well as a screener as both a roll-man and pop option.
Weaknesses
- Despite being able to create his own versatile offense, his shooting splits of 38.4/32.4/67.7 are low efficiency, which could worsen at the NBA level.
- Occasionally shows really poor effort on defensive end; loses his man too easily off-ball.
- Doesn't look to set up teammates; averaged less than an assist per game with a 0.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.
NBA comparable: Rui Hachimura. Jackson is a really raw prospect, so finding the perfect pro comparison is tough. However, he does share a lot of physical and style similarities with Hachimura, who established himself at Gonzaga as a talented and athletic 'tweener' forward who can put the ball on the floor but also extend his range to the 3-point line (albeit not at a fantastic efficiency). Jackson can definitely surpass the comparison. But it'll depend mostly on how well he can invest himself into the defensive end and how he develops as a playmaker when teams learn to subdue his scoring.