GG Jackson Scouting Report: NBA Comparisons, Draft Rankings, Highlights, Stats
Contents
Despite initially being in the 2023 class, GG Jackson decided to reclassify to the 2022 class a year ago and then committed to South Carolina for his freshman season. Jackson figured that his tantalizing skillset and youth would factor well into his draft stock; it turns out that he was right. GG should be a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and it is now just a matter of where he lands. Stay tuned for updates on where Jackson lands, and check out his list of measurables, strengths, and weaknesses below! Other scouting reports can quickly be found on the Lineups 2023 Big Board or Final Mock Draft as well.
GG Jackson Scouting Report
GG Jackson measured well at the combine, coming in at nearly 6-foot-9 without shoes, with a seven-foot wingspan. At just 18 years old, Jackson is one of the more tantalizing mid-to-late first-round prospects due to his skillset and athleticism. While oftentimes inefficient at South Carolina, he still carried most of the offensive weight for the Gamecocks. Look at his full list of measurements below!
Age: 18
Height: 6’9.5”
Weight: 214 lbs
Wingspan: 6’11.5”
Position: Forward
College/ Professional Team: South Carolina
Strengths: Jackson’s biggest strengths are his size, length, build, and natural scoring instincts. GG is one of the more talented scorers in this draft; he averaged just shy of 16 points per game as a reclassified freshman. That is no small feat, especially against the talent he was going up against in the SEC. Further, Jackson is a terrific athlete and has already displayed impressive footwork and coordination for a player that is just shy of 6-foot-10 in shoes.
Weaknesses: Efficiency, defense, and maturity are three glaring issues that could deter teams from pulling the trigger on GG Jackson in the mid-first round. Jackson often displayed immaturity and lack of intensity on the defensive end of the floor throughout his freshman season at South Carolina; however, it should be noted that he will be one of the youngest players in the draft. He can and should still grow in these areas. Additionally, Jackson struggled with efficiency, shooting below 40% from the field and roughly 32% from behind the arc. While efficiency is a concern, he was the primary option for a collegiate team as a freshman, so that should factor into the equation.
GG Jackson Stats
| PPG | RPG | APG | FG % | 3P% | FT% | TO | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.4 | 5.9 | 0.8 | 38.4 | 32.4 | 67.7 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
GG Jackson NBA Comparison: Josh Smith
GG Jackson projects similarly to a player like Josh Smith: an oversized wing with fantastic athleticism and huge upside as an offensive player. Much like Smith, Jackson will be very young when he is drafted into the NBA, giving teams all the more reason to roll the dice with a moldable forward who likely hasn’t even finished growing. Smith might be slightly more of a high flier than Jackson, but the offensive skillset could wind up looking similar by the time it is all said and done.
GG Jackson Highlights
It is not hard to see why scouts and teams alike get so excited when watching GG Jackson highlights. His footwork, shooting upside, strength, and natural scoring prowess stand out, especially given his size! Take a closer look at the highlights below, courtesy of No Ceilings YouTube!
GG Jackson NBA Draft Ranking, Team Fit, Landing Spot
Draft Ranking: 22
Team Fit: Indiana
Jackson’s best fit could be with the Indiana Pacers, a team that needs to continue acquiring young talent. While GG won’t start for the Pacers, he could crack the rotation in his first season due to the fact that they don’t have a ton of high-upside forwards at the moment. If Indiana snags Jarace Walker with the seventh pick, Jackson might still be a strong selection later in the first round.
Landing Spot: Utah, Indiana, Charlotte, Memphis
The most important thing for Jackson’s ideal landing spot is which team will give him some latitude and let him grow. Utah, Indiana, Charlotte, and Memphis are all ideal player destinations for guys that need to grow. The Jazz, Hornets, and Pacers are nowhere near strong enough as teams to compete in their respective conferences and might as well let their young players gain experience and build chemistry. Meanwhile, Memphis is a sleeper team that could be a surprisingly good fit. The Grizzlies need another small forward and have proved that they are not afraid to play younger players (think David Roddy last season.) Ultimately, Memphis may not have enough trade capital or money to bring in a high-profile small forward, so building in the draft might be the best move.
