South Carolina star GG Jackson declares for NBA draft

South Carolina star Gregory "GG" Jackson has declared for the NBA draft and will forego his remaining college eligibility, the school announced Friday.

Jackson was ranked No. 6 overall in the class of 2023 before reclassifying a year early. He initially committed to North Carolina in April 2022 but later decommitted and joined his hometown Gamecocks instead.

Jackson is projected to be a late first-round pick in this year's draft.

"I want to thank God and my family for always being there for me," Jackson said in a statement. "I also want to thank coach (Lamont) Paris and the rest of the staff at South Carolina for giving me the opportunity to live my dream playing in my home city and state.

"To Gamecock Nation, the best fans in the country, thank you for your unwavering support. I am a Gamecock for life. The next step in my journey is here, and I will be declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft."

Jackson averaged a team-high 15.4 points and 5.9 boards over 32 appearances during his lone season in Columbia. The 6-foot-9 forward was 15th in the SEC in blocks (26) and 16th in free-throw attempts (124). He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team.