Duke basketball staff compares recruiting target to Paolo Banchero
By Matt Giles
Duke basketball is tempting a prized prospect at the center of UNC’s radar.
At some point in the spring, before the next AAU season begins, 2023 Duke basketball target GG Jackson plans to decide where he’ll end up after high school. And when it comes to weighing the Duke Blue Devils as an option, the Ridge View (S.C.) junior power forward could try to envision a potential role for himself in Durham just by watching current freshman sensation Paolo Banchero.
Yes, according to an article from SI.com national recruiting insider Jason Jordan, who interviewed Jackson this week, Duke coaches “are playing up the Paolo Banchero comparisons ahead of Jackson’s visit to Durham” in three weeks. Here’s what the 6-foot-9, 205-pound multifaceted five-star told Jordan about that:
“They talk about me playing a role like Paolo a lot, just because of my versatility and size. They told me that they want me to be a centerpiece of the offense and be a guy that can win games for them.”
Where Duke basketball may stand in the GG Jackson sweepstakes
Although UNC has long been the perceived clear frontrunner for GG Jackson, who ranks No. 10 overall on the 247Sports 2023 Composite, the heralded recruit himself has yet to name finalists and still sounds sincerely undecided. After all, he intends to take two more official visits, including one to nearby South Carolina, following his Duke trip.
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Jackson has already taken official visits to UNC and Georgetown. Plus, it’s worth noting he’s been on unofficial visits to Duke, NC State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest in the past.
Further speaking to his wealth of options, Jackson informed Jason Jordan that he hasn’t ruled out the G League Ignite and Overtime Elite pro routes.
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Duke currently sits atop the 247Sports 2023 Team Rankings with two top-tier commits already in tow: five-star point guard Caleb Foster and four-star power forward Sean Stewart.