'Gonna fit in great': Ian Jackson expected to be a key piece in the UNC backcourt

Ian Jackson walked with a limp growing up.

His teammates compared the first-year guard to Captain Jack Sparrow from “Pirates of the Caribbean.” His AAU coach, Daman Brown, nicknamed him “Captain Jack.”

And although his limp and the growing pains in his knee are gone, the moniker has stuck.

It’s one Jackson has embraced. It's become his Instagram username. It’s the inspiration behind his “Captain Jack Show” podcast.

Both on and off the court, the name represents the leadership qualities he exudes. His loud presence. His flashy dunks. And his dynamic scoring ability.

Entering his first year at UNC, Jackson will help anchor one of the best backcourts in college basketball. Standing at 6-foot-4, the guard will likely slot into the small forward position for the Tar Heels during the 2024-25 season, adding another scoring threat to the offense. While Jackson has been blunt about his potential and desire to spend just one year in college basketball, he isn’t worried about that right now.

Out of high school, Jackson was a five-star recruit, ranking as the No. 8 player in the nation. In his senior year at Our Saviour Lutheran School, Jackson averaged 23.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists, leading to his participation in theMcDonald’s All-American game.

Jackson will be a versatile scorer on the offensive end for the Tar Heels, adjusting perfectly to the fast-paced style North Carolina plans to utilize this season. 

“He's always loved to play in an uptempo style, pace,” head coach Hubert Davis said. “And it's one of the many reasons why I think he decided to come here. So he's gonna fit in great out there on the floor.” 

But when Jackson committed to North Carolina in January 2023, he didn't tell anyone. Not even Hubert Davis. Instead, Jackson went on TV and announced his commitment.

“I don't know what told me to do that, but I did it,” Jackson said. “I got it done and everybody was surprised.”

Jackson is one of seven brothers. Being in the younger tier of that seven, he was always trying to compete.

“I appreciate them,” Jackson said. “They pushed me for years. Now I beat them, but back then it was hard beating them.”

But it wasn't just his brothers that had an influence on Jackson.

In eighth grade, the Bronx, New York native saw fellow New Yorker and now teammate RJ Davis play while Davis was a junior in high school. Although he didn’t meet him then, Davis' dominance on the court stuck out to him.

“They were just killing everybody,” Jackson said. “That team was crazy.”

When it came down to making a college decision, Jackson remembered how UNC fans treated Davis — or “Ari” as Jackson calls him — on his visit to North Carolina. During his visit, the two went to Davis' house and hung out together.

That familiarity with someone from his area, who found success at North Carolina, played a role in Jackson's commitment.

And now, Jackson gets to play in a backcourt entirely from up North, made up of those he knew growing up: Davis and sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau.

Throughout high school, Jackson was used to having the ball in his hands. But with a loaded backcourt for the Tar Heels, he has adjusted his off-ball movement during summer and fall workouts.

To fit in with the offense, he's been working on backdoor cuts to help spread the ball around. 

“He's done a surprisingly good job moving off the ball, just more than I thought,” junior guard Seth Trimble said. “You gotta be on alert cause if you're not, he’s just one of those guys who’ll give it to you.”

Jackson’s instant connection extends beyond the court, where he lives up to his Captain Jack nickname — or “Capt” as the team calls him. Trimble said Jackson is incredibly outgoing and has the New York confidence in him.

He talks quickly, he's funny. He's got energy, he's loud. Louder than "Ari."

And for a team looking to establish its identity early in the season, he's a perfect fit.

“He's a great personality for this team,” Trimble said.

While “Capt” has the talent to be a one-and-done, he knows that individual awards only come from the team's success.

“I just got a whole lot of confidence in myself off the floor, and it leads into on the floor,” Jackson said. “[I] understand that these guys [have] been here and I'm a freshman, but I put in the work too. We all put in the work and I trust my game, so that's where my confidence comes from.”

@mdmaynard74

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