North Carolina is ready to play at a faster pace with McDonald's All-American Ian Jackson

Our Savior Lutheran (NY) coach Peter Wehye coached Ian Jackson last season and believes the high-profile New York guard will have a big impact when he plays in North Carolina next season.

In his opinion, the 6-foot-2 Jackson will not only be a two-way player for coach Hubert Davis' team, but he will also allow the Tar Heels to play a faster style.

“He’s going to impact Carolina in a lot of ways,” Wehye said of Jackson in a phone interview last week.

“Firstly, he is a high-level defender, so he will be able to guard multiple positions so they can switch and do a lot of dynamic things.

“But when he comes, I think they will play a lot faster, even if they want to come down and play their sets. The reason I think they’ll play a lot faster is because he’s dynamic in open space and on the open floor.”

North Carolina ranked 58th nationally in possessions per game last season, but Wehye says other players on the team include Jackson, a McDonald's All-American who will compete in the ACES Elite Classic at Gauchos Gym in the Bronx on Wednesday will influence.

“I think we’ll see Elliot now [Cadeau] He really showcased his playmaking ability when you have a shooter the caliber of RJ Davis who is behind on the other wing and you have this guy [Jackson] zipping down the floor,” Wehye said.

“Because they don’t have a lot of likes [Armando] Bacot, I think North Carolina will play faster and faster. But I think he’s going to shoot the ball and impact their game offensively and defensively.”

Jackson has a NIL contract with Adidas, even though North Carolina is a NikeNike
School. He travels to North Carolina on June 5 and can't wait to start training on a college campus.

“That’s what I’m most looking forward to,” he said on the phone. “I have been committed to Carolina for some time [since January 2023]That’s why I can’t wait to get out there, work at the college level, be with my teammates and get ready for the season.”

What was Davis' message to the five-star star about his role with the Tar Heels?

“Coach Davis just told me to just be Ian Jackson,” he said. “Just be yourself, show how your game has grown at all levels, show what you can do at all levels, just rebound and defend. “Just go in there and be who you are.”

Jackson moved from Cardinal Hayes to OSL before last season to play with the “Jelly Fam” in the Overtime Elite League and believes it helped prepare him for college.

“It really prepared me for just going into the overtime elite environment where the players are older, more physical, faster, stronger and jump a little bit higher,” he said. “Right before college you play against older guys, I feel like that will help me the most.”

Jackson already has relationships with fellow New York/New Jersey natives Cadeau and Davis.

“Relationships are great,” Jackson said. “Even before [Cadeau] When we went to Carolina, Elliot and I were super close. Me and RJ became really close when I got involved and I was on campus and things like that.”

The 6-1 Cadeau averaged 7.3 points and 4.1 assists last season, but those numbers should increase next season, especially with Jackson's arrival.

“Now that he's on the floor in the open field, Elliot's true greatness is shown, which is his playmaking ability,” Wehye said.

“There used to be shooters, now there are more athletes. You'll see more lobs at the rim, you'll see he's a little more dangerous because he can attack now.

“This is how Ian’s arrival will impact the entire team.”

Davis, meanwhile, opted to return to campus for another year after earning first-team All-America status and averaging a league-leading 21.1 points and 3.6 assists.

Jackson said it helps “a lot” that Cadeau and Davis are already on campus. That should make the transition a little easier for him.

“It helps a lot knowing that you're in a situation where you have a few familiar faces that have been with the same person that kind of understand everything that you've been through, so it helps a little bit,” he said.

Jackson also considered Kentucky before transferring to North Carolina, but now former Kentucky coach John Calipari is at Arkansas.

So does he feel like he dodged a bullet there?

“I am fully committed to this school, the coaching staff and Coach Davis and am ready to go to the Dean Smith Center, put on this jersey and win games,” he said of North Carolina.

And what are the goals at Carolina?

“The ultimate goal is to win,” Jackson said. “I will never go into a season thinking that we are going to do anything less than win, win a championship.

“The ultimate goal is victory. I know the coach wants to win, the players want to win, so we will try to do it.”