All Tar Heels

One UNC Basketball Signee Leapfrogs Another in Updated Rankings

Future UNC basketball player Ian Jackson is back on top among the Tar Heels' 2024 recruiting prizes.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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When Ian Jackson committed to the UNC basketball program a year ago, he was the highest-ranked member of the Tar Heels' heralded recruiting haul at No. 2 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite.

But the Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) five-star guard gradually dropped to No. 10. And fellow 2024 UNC signee Drake Powell, a five-star forward at Northwood High School (N.C.), skyrocketed to No. 9.

This week, though, Jackson and Powell switched places. Jackson, who rose two spots to No. 8 in the eyes of 247Sports, is back on top with his No. 9 composite ranking.

Meanwhile, 247Sports dropped Powell from No. 4 to No. 9 in its rankings. That translated into a one-spot ding to his composite ranking, now No. 10 yet still 40 notches higher than when he pledged allegiance to the Tar Heels in September 2022.

The third piece to third-year head coach Hubert Davis' 2024 UNC basketball class is Link Academy (Mo.) four-star center James Brown. He slid from No. 91 to No. 106 on the updated 247Sports rankings and now boasts a No. 69 composite ranking, down only one spot from before the update.

Overall, 247Sports stacks up the three-deep Tar Heel collection at No. 7 in the country, the same as its composite ranking.

As things stand, Davis and his crew are not in the mix for any of the limited number of remaining undecided preps in the 2024 cycle.

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Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI.com for more UNC basketball recruiting news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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