Ian Jackson already learning new position from Rick Pitino after departure from UNC

The Red Storm guard is looking forward to his new opportunity and potential new position
Mar 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Former UNC basketball guard Ian Jackson (11) before the game at Dean E. Smith Center.
Mar 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Former UNC basketball guard Ian Jackson (11) before the game at Dean E. Smith Center. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Ian Jackson is no stranger to the bright lights. He’s been destined for stardom since his high school days in New York City and the spotlight under him only grew after committing to North Carolina and being named as a McDonald’s All-American.

Now, he faces a challenge that he hasn’t experienced before. A return home to play for Rick Pitino and St. John’s with the chance to show the rest of the country why he has been so highly regarded throughout his young career.

However, in order to fit in Pitino’s system Jackson will likely have to undergo a position change during his first season with the Red Storm – playing more point guard than he did with the Tar Heels last season.

To Jackson, that’s no problem.

“It’s different, especially at this level,” Jackson said earlier this month in Manhattan at St. John’s launch event with adidas. “I didn’t play a lot of point guard last year, so, to come in and have coach believe in me to play [point guard] and be our point guard and grow at that position, it’s been great.”

Despite riding the rollercoaster of a freshman season, Jackson still averaged 11.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game on 39.5-percent shooting from 3-point range. His 0.9 assists per contest were expected for a rookie playing off the ball but he expects that area of his game to grow under the Hall of Famer.

“Coach [Pitino] is phenomenal,” he continued. “Every little detail is important. Just putting my mental and my headspace and my understanding of the game at a whole different level. I’m still learning. I’m still growing with coach. He’s allowing me to grow, we’re still growing together.”

Ian Jackson is the headliner in a star-studded transfer portal class for St. John’s that has the Johnnies as high as No. 1 in way-too-early polls. He’s joined by Providence’s Bryce Hopkins, Arizona State’s Joson Sanon, Stanford’s Oziyah Sellers, Cincinnati’s Dillon Mitchell, and Idaho State’s Dylan Darling.

“I think from what the team did last year, we all know what St. John’s is and what the expectation is for us as a team,” he added.

The countdown to opening night is already on for St. John’s in what could be the most anticipated season in the last 25 years.