By R.L. Bynum
Ian Jackson, a Carolina commitment who is the No. 3 player in the Class of 2024, is one of four rising high school seniors to earn a spot on the United States team that will play in the FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary.
Jackson, a five-star small forward, boasts versatile talent at 6–5, 180 pounds, with length and explosiveness inside, ball-handling ability, solid defensive skills and efficiency with mid-range jumpers.
While helping the United States win the gold medal at the U17 World Cup last year, he scored 26 points in 20 minutes and was +39 during a 112–64 victory over Mali on July 5. He averaged 11.9 points in seven games and shot 45% from 3-point range.
In pool play, the Americans face Madagascar on June 24, Slovenia on June 25 and Lebanon on June 27. The championship game is July 2.
The U.S. has won the competition eight times, including three of the last four competitions in 2015, 2019 and 2021.
Colorado coach Tad Boyle is the head coach for the team, which will include Villanova’s Mark Armstrong, Tennessee’s Tobe Awaka, Iowa State incoming freshman Omaha Biliew, Arizona’s Kylan Boswell, Purdue’s Myles Colvin, incoming Oklahoma State freshman Eric Dailey Jr., Dylan Harper (an uncommitted Class of 2024 player from New Jersey sought by Rutgers, Duke and Kansas), Tre Johnson (uncommitted Class of 2024 player), Vanderbilt’s Ven-Allen Lubin, Asa Newell (uncommitted Class of 2024 player) and incoming Colorado freshman Cody Williams.
Jackson is a rising senior in high school at Cardinal Hayes in The Bronx.
Key events, dates
Saturday at 11:59 p.m. ET — Deadline for players to submit their names to the NBA draft
Wednesday — Transfer portal closes
May 11–12 — NBA G League Elite Camp in Chicago
May 12–19 — NBA Combine in Chicago
May 17–19 — Evaluation for high school players at NCAA-certified events (EYBL in Indianapolis is on those)
UNC schedule so far
Nov. 8 — at Kansas (final AP rank No. 20; final NET ranking No. 19)
Nov. 22 — at Hawaii (final NET ranking No. 172)
Nov. 25–27 — Maui Invitational — Auburn (final AP rank No. 18; final NET ranking No. 5), Colorado (unranked; No. 25), Connecticut (No. 1; No. 2), Dayton (No. 24; No. 23), Iowa State (No. 8; No. 6), Memphis (unranked; No. 75), Michigan State (unranked; No. 24)
Dec. 14 — vs. La Salle (final NET ranking No. 195)
Likely in late November — Opponent TBA in ACC/SEC Challenge
December — vs. UCLA (final NET ranking No. 107) in CBS Sports Classic (date, location TBA)
December — vs. Florida (final NET ranking No. 29) in Jumpman Invitational at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center (date TBA)
— Games home and away against Duke, N.C. State and Pittsburgh
— Home games vs. Boston College, California, Georgia Tech, Miami, SMU, Stanford and Virginia
— Road games vs. Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest
Note: 2024 NCAA tournament teams in bold.
Potential 2024-25 UNC roster
| No. | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Freshman | James Brown (4 star) | 5 | 6–8 | 225 |
| — | Freshman | Ian Jackson (5 star) | 2 | 6–4 | 180 |
| — | Freshman | Drake Powell (5 star) | 2 | 6–5 | 185 |
| 2 | Soph. | Elliot Cadeau | PG | 6–1 | 180 |
| 1 | Soph. | Zayden High | 4 | 6–9 | 225 |
| 13 | Junior | Jalen Washington | 5 | 6–10 | 230 |
| 0 | Junior | Seth Trimble | 2 | 6–3 | 195 |
| 5 | Graduate | RJ Davis | PG | 6–0 | 180 |
| Eligible for fifth season | |||||
| 24 | Graduate | Jae’Lyn Withers | 4 | 6–9 | 215 |
| Walk-ons eligible for 5th season | |||||
| 14 | Graduate | Creighton Lebo | PG | 6–1 | 180 |
| 22 | Graduate | Rob Landry | 2 | 6–4 | 190 |
Photo via @CardinalHayes
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