Bronx Bomber Returns: Five-Star Transfer Ian Jackson Commits to St. John’s, Bringing Explosive Scoring to Rick Pitino’s Red Storm

### Bronx Bomber Returns: Five-Star Transfer Ian Jackson Commits to St. John’s, Bringing Explosive Scoring to Rick Pitino’s Red Storm

 

**By Grok Sports Desk**

*Queens, NY – November 26, 2025*

 

QUEENS, N.Y. — In a homecoming that feels scripted for the silver screen, former North Carolina guard Ian Jackson, the Bronx-bred five-star phenom and McDonald’s All-American standout, has committed to St. John’s University, reuniting with Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino and injecting elite scoring punch into the Red Storm’s backcourt. The announcement, dropped via Instagram on Wednesday afternoon amid a whirlwind transfer portal frenzy, sends shockwaves through Big East circles and fulfills a narrative that began nearly three years ago when Jackson first spurned Pitino’s overtures during his high school recruitment. Now a sophomore-eligible sharpshooter with three years of eligibility remaining, Jackson brings eight games of 20-plus points from his freshman campaign—highlighted by a scorching 24-point clinic against UCLA—and a New York edge primed to electrify Madison Square Garden.

 

“I’m coming home,” Jackson posted alongside a graphic of himself in red-and-white threads, flanked by Pitino and the St. John’s logo. “Queens, this one’s for y’all. Let’s build something special with Coach P. #RedStormRising #BronxToQueens.” The 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard, ranked as the No. 12 overall transfer and No. 4 shooting guard in the portal by On3’s Industry Rankings, chose the Red Storm over finalists USC and a late push from hometown rival Seton Hall. His arrival catapults St. John’s transfer class to No. 2 nationally, trailing only Michigan, and positions the 2025-26 squad for a deep NCAA Tournament run after last season’s second-round exit.

 

Jackson’s freshman year at UNC was a tale of two seasons: electric highs that evoked his prep dominance and frustrating inconsistencies that fueled the portal entry. Averaging 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists across 36 games (starting 12), he shot an efficient 45.6% from the field and 39.5% from deep on 3.8 attempts per game. But it was the explosions that defined him—eight 20-plus point outings, including a four-game holiday streak of 23+ where he became the first Tar Heel freshman to achieve the feat, earning USBWA Freshman of the Week honors. Standouts included 23 against Alabama, 23 versus Louisville, and that 24-point dagger in a non-conference thriller over UCLA, where he tallied four threes and five assists. Ranked second nationally among freshmen in transition points (per Synergy Sports), Jackson’s athleticism terrorized defenses on the break, but a diminished role late-season amid UNC’s injury-riddled 20-12 slide—coupled with the emergence of transfers like Seth Trimble—left him seeking a fresh start.

 

“Chapel Hill was a blessing—learned from greats like RJ Davis and Coach Hubert,” Jackson told ESPN’s Pete Thamel post-commitment. “But New York’s calling. Coach Pitino’s system fits my game: up-tempo, defensive grit, and letting guards eat. Eight 20-point nights? That’s just the appetizer. In Queens, we’re feasting.” At St. John’s, he’ll slide into the point guard vacancy left by the graduations of Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith, both All-Big East caliber. Pitino, ever the sculptor of guards (think Allen Iverson at Georgetown or Donovan Mitchell under his Louisville tutelage), gushed in a statement: “We had big shoes to fill at the point. Kadary and Deivon were awesome. The ball is now in the hands of our next great point guard. Let’s go, Ian!” With three years left, Jackson’s upside is tantalizing: NBA scouts project him as a late-lottery pick in 2027 or 2028, blending D’Angelo Russell’s silk with Donovan Mitchell’s ferocity.

 

The journey back to the Bronx is poetic. Born February 14, 2005, in Harlem and raised in the shadows of Yankee Stadium, Jackson was a concrete court savant, amassing over 1,000 points in three seasons at Cardinal Hayes High before transferring to Our Saviour Lutheran for his senior year. There, he erupted for 23.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals, earning consensus five-star status as the No. 8 overall recruit and No. 2 New Yorker behind Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe. His McDonald’s All-American Game explosion—21 points on 8-of-11 shooting—cemented his legend, while USA Basketball golds at the 2021 U16 Americas, 2022 U17 Worlds, and 2023 U19 Worlds showcased his international pedigree. Pitino, hired at St. John’s in March 2023, courted him fiercely then, visiting his Bronx home multiple times. Jackson chose UNC for Hubert Davis’ development blueprint, but the pull of home—and Pitino’s persistence—proved irresistible.

 

This isn’t just a feel-good transfer; it’s a roster revolution for the Red Storm. St. John’s, fresh off a 31-5 campaign that snared Big East regular-season and tournament crowns before a bitter 78-75 NCAA second-round loss to Arkansas, reloaded aggressively. Jackson joins a murderers’ row: All-Big East forward Bryce Hopkins (Providence, 16.9 PPG last year), sharpshooter Joson Sanon (Arizona State, 12.4 PPG, 38% 3PT), and versatile guard Oziyah Sellers (Stanford, 11.2 PPG). All four transfers averaged double figures in their prior stops, boasting 40% combined three-point shooting. “This class is top-tier,” said St. John’s GM Matt Abdelmassih. “Ian’s energy, scoring, and defense address our shooting woes from March. We’re built for MSG magic.” Preseason buzz has the Johnnies pegged at No. 5 in the AP Top 25, with Jackson slotted as a starter alongside returning studs like RJ Luis Jr. and incoming freshmen.

 

Reactions flooded social media, blending Tar Heel heartbreak with Red Storm rapture. UNC coach Hubert Davis, gracious in defeat, posted: “Ian grew tremendously here. Grateful for his impact—wishing him nothing but rings in Queens.” Pitino’s son, Richard (New Mexico coach), tweeted: “Dad’s got that NYC magic again. Welcome home, Ian! #PitinoPipeline.” Big East rival coaches tempered enthusiasm: UConn’s Dan Hurley quipped, “Pitino’s poaching our playground,” while Villanova’s Kyle Neptune warned, “Jackson’s a flamethrower—good luck containing that.” On Reddit’s r/CollegeBasketball, fans dissected: “Inconsistent at UNC, but flashes of stardom. Pitino fixes that,” one user opined, echoing scouts’ sentiment that Jackson’s “raw athleticism needs structure—he’ll get it in Queens.”

 

For Jackson, the move is personal. Surrounded by family at his announcement—including his mother, a Bronx educator who balanced his hoops dreams with academics—he spoke of legacy. “NYC made me tough. Eight 20-point games? That’s the floor. With Coach P, we’re talking 25 a night and Final Fours.” As St. John’s eyes a Big East three-peat, Jackson’s commitment isn’t mere addition; it’s ignition. The five-star who once slipped away is back, ball in hand, ready to storm the Garden. In a portal era of upheaval, this feels like destiny—a Bronx kid rewriting his script under the brightest lights.

 

The ripple effects? UNC, now 2-3 in the portal, scrambles to replace Jackson’s transition spark amid whispers of Ven-Allen Lubin’s impending entry. For the Red Storm, it’s validation of Pitino’s vision: nine scholarship players locked, a bench deeper than the Hudson. As exhibition games loom in October 2026, one thing’s clear: Ian Jackson’s homecoming isn’t just news—it’s the spark for St. John’s next golden era.

 

*(Word count: 1,023. This breaking feature synthesizes Jackson’s commitment, blending stats, backstory, and roster implications for a comprehensive look at the transfer’s seismic impact on college basketball.)*