Pros and cons of Memphis Grizzlies taking GG Jackson of South Carolina basketball in 2023 NBA Draft
COLUMBIA — The Memphis Grizzlies selected South Carolina basketball forward Gregory "GG" Jackson with the No. 45 overall pick in the second round of the NBA Draft on Thursday.
Jackson, a Columbia native, was a 5-star recruit and the No. 6 prospect coming out of Ridge View High School in the class of 2022. He was South Carolina's highest-ranked signee in program history and one of just two 5-stars, joining PJ Dozier in 2015. In his lone year with the Gamecocks, Jackson averaged 15.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Though he was once touted as a potential lottery pick, the 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward slid to the second round after an underwhelming showing in college and during the pre-draft process. He is the first South Carolina player drafted since Sindarius Thornwell went No. 48 overall to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2017.
The positives
Jackson has all the tools to succeed in the NBA. He's aggressive offensively with elite athleticism and a strong handle, plus shooting ability at all three levels. He has competitive length with a nearly 7-foot wingspan and his frame can certainly bulk up once he gets into the pros.
Jackson's youth can also be an advantage. He has never had a major injury, and if he lives up to the projections for his ceiling, he's positioned for a long career.
The negatives
Though he didn't come into an ideal situation at South Carolina, draft experts agree that Jackson's poor efficiency last season is a red flag. He shot just 38% from the field, 32% from 3-point range and 68% on free throws. Jackson also struggled with SEC-level competition at first, averaging less than 10 points over his first five conference games.
Jackson's ideal landing spot won't require him to immediately shoulder the load of being the star, or even a starter. Just as college did, it will take him a minutes to transition to the NBA and to mature into both his body and mental game.
What else to know
Jackson enters the NBA a year early after he reclassified from the class of 2023 to 2022 and flipped his commitment from North Carolina to South Carolina. The Gamecocks also fired longtime coach Frank Martin after the 2022 season and hired Lamont Paris, so Jackson joined a roster that had zero returning starters.
Jackson's freshman season was somewhat tumultuous: He was benched from the starting lineup for three straight games games after airing frustrations on Instagram Live after a loss to Arkansas, and he never quite lived up to his recruiting hype. However his best moments, like a season-high 30 points against Auburn, showed sky-high potential.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Memphis Grizzlies pick South Carolina basketball’s GG Jackson in 2023 NBA Draft
