Ian Jackson - NBA Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, we will track where North Carolina Tar Heels guard Ian Jackson appears in the latest NBA mock drafts.

Ian Jackson NBA Mock Drafts

Here are some of the latest mock drafts in which Ian Jackson has appeared:

For the Win — Bryan Kalbrosky

Round 1, Pick 19 — Brooklyn Nets (via MIL)

North Carolina freshman Ian Jackson has started just 5 of his 16 games played so far this season. But he is averaging 23.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 42.9 percent on 3-pointers in those appearances. He leads all freshmen in field goals made in a transition offense and fastbreak points scored, per CBB Analytics.

CBS Sports — Adam Finkelstein

Round 1, Pick 20 — Indiana Pacers

Jackson has averaged over 23 points per game through his last six games. He's always been hyper-competitive and made great strides with his shooting in high school. Now it's just the feel and shot selection that scouts want to see.

Bleacher Report — Jonathan Wasserman

Round 1, Pick 18 — Brooklyn Nets (via MIL)

Ian Jackson has been showcasing the full scoring arsenal with his downhill attacking, pull-up shotmaking and off-ball shooting. He just hit a season-high five threes against North Carolina State, bringing his percentage up to 42.7.

The eye test on his body, movement, self-creation and jump shot hint at a surefire NBA scorer. No playmaking ability just reduces his margin for error/versatility and lowers the value of his projected archetype.

The Athletic — Sam Vecenie

Round 1, Pick 29 — Los Angeles Clippers (via OKC)

Arguably no player has been hotter in college hoops than Jackson, a five-star freshman guard who started slowly while being stuck behind guards R.J. Davis, Seth Trimble and Elliot Cadeau. However, over his last eight games, he's averaging 19.3 points while shooting 53 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3, including at least 23 points in each of his last four games. Jackson has long been extremely confident going back to high school, so belief in himself was never going to be a concern. His game has translated quite well because he's knocking down shots. If he sprays out to the corners, he's firing without concern. If he gets downhill in transition, he's attacking with real force. If he sees a mismatch with a big on him, he'll use quick crossovers to create an angle and attack. What teams would like to see now is any sort of passing ability. Jackson's averaging 0.7 assists per game during this run and hasn't showcased much in the way of creativity as a distributor. He looks the part of a bench scorer in the NBA right now. But the difference between that and a starting guard is the ability to help make your teammates better. That's what makes him more of a later first-round type of prospect despite the hot scoring run.

ESPN — Givony/Woo

Round 1, Pick 24 — Orlando Magic (via DEN)

Orlando's second first-round pick, by way of Denver, could be an opportunity to add backcourt depth. Jackson has hit his stride over the past couple of weeks, scoring 20-plus points in four of his previous five games and showcasing his competitiveness and instincts by creating for himself. He has been fairly efficient in the process, establishing himself as a prospect for NBA teams to track over the next couple of months.

His game also has considerable holes -- he can get too isolation-heavy at times, he's a limited playmaker (5.6% assist rate) and he's made minimal impact defensively. Coupled with his below-average size at 6-4 and narrow frame for a 2-guard, Jackson will need time to evolve into more than just a scorer to carve out a meaningful niche in the NBA. But he has helped himself with his recent performances, and continuing to showcase his strengths will bolster his case in this range of the draft. -- Woo

MORE: NBA Draft Prospect Roundups