Washington
Ian Jackson owns a unique perspective on two of the biggest college basketball stories in a wild week around the sport.
The St. John’s guard is preparing to face Duke, the NCAA Tournament’s top seed, Friday night in the East Region semifinals at Capital One Arena.
He knows all about the Blue Devils because he played last season at North Carolina and endured three losses to Duke. That’s why he has interest in another major story: UNC’s decision to part ways with head coach Hubert Davis after his five seasons at the school.
“It sucks,” Jackson said Thursday. “It sucks. Hubert Davis was a great coach, great person. His family is great people. I’m hoping the best. I’m hoping things go well for him.”
The 6-5 Jackson played one season as a freshman for Davis with the Tar Heels before entering his name in the transfer portal last spring. After averaging 11.9 points while making 39% of his 3-pointers and 45.6% of his overall shots with UNC, the Bronx, New York, native has scored 9.6 points per game while making 35% of his 3-pointers and 41.3% overall for the Red Storm this season.
“I just looked for it somewhere to reset and put my head down and get better,” Jackson said. “I think me coming here was a perfect place for that, being able to come home, have my family here, the support, and just grow as a player and as a person. I think so far, it’s been great.”
Facing Duke. Again.
One thing that wasn’t great about his UNC experience? Losing three times to rival Duke, including a 74-71 decision in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
“That rivalry and that dislike from them beating us over there is still there,” Jackson said.
Now, Jackson and St. John’s (30-6), the East’s No. 5 seed, face the tournament’s No. 1 seed, the 34-2 Blue Devils, in the Sweet 16.
“I love it,” Jackson said. “I love to have a chance. I’m a competitor. I want to have a chance to win. I would have hated to not see them here. We see them and I’ve got a chance to beat them.”
Duke’s Tyrese Proctor (5) drives to the basket past North Carolina’s Ian Jackson (11) during Duke’s 87-70 victory over UNC at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. Ethan Hyman [email protected]
In three games against Duke last season, Jackson scored just 16 points, hitting 5 of 14 shots overall, including 2 of 8 3-pointers. He started the first game on Feb. 7 at Cameron then came off the bench in the final two games. He played 19 minutes in the regular-season finale and just 10 minutes in the ACC Tournament game.
With St. John’s this season, Jackson’s per-game minutes are 18.3, compared to his 23.8 minutes per game with the Tar Heels. He started 19 games this season but, like his season at UNC, he’s now coming off the bench in March.
Whatever the role he has Friday night, he knows what to expect from Duke.
“They play hard, they guard,” Jackson said. “So for me, last year, that’s what I’ve got from them as a team. This year, I kind of get the same thing, the little intricate things about them.”
Steve Wiseman
The News & Observer
Steve Wiseman was named Raleigh News & Observer and Durham Herald-Sun sports editor in May 2025. He covered Duke athletics, beginning in 2010, prior to his current assignment. In the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest, he placed in the top 10 in beat writing in 2019, 2021 and 2022, breaking news in 2019 and explanatory writing in 2018. Before coming to Durham in 2010, Steve worked for The State (Columbia, SC), Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.), The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Charlotte Observer and Hickory (NC) Daily Record covering beats including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, University of South Carolina athletics and the S.C. General Assembly. He’s won numerous state-level press association awards. Steve graduated from Illinois State University in 1989.
