As expected, Ian Jackson announced he is committing to St. John’s on Monday. He had been considering the Red Storm before choosing North Carolina before his freshman season. However, with every expected outcome, there is a chance of a related unexpected outcome. This announcement was no different. Shortly after Ian Jackson announced his decision, Rick Pitino went to X and announced that Jackson would be the team’s new point guard. This decision caught many people off guard and posed an interesting question: Can Jackson play point guard? There has been a flurry of point guards in the portal, but none that rival Donovan Dent or Rob Wright. So, will it benefit St. John’s, and what could that system look like? Let’s dive in.
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. Let's Go Ian!!!
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) April 21, 2025
Can Ian Jackson at Point Guard Work for St. John’s?
Ian Jackson’s Lack of Playmaking at North Carolina
If Jackson could play point guard, he didn’t show it much at North Carolina. Jackson can get his shot at any time, hitting some highly contested jumpers and layups throughout the season. Jackson averaged 11.9 points on an efficient 45.6% from the floor. He is explosive and can blow by defenders to get to the lane. While these attributes sound like those could be a good point guard, Jackson only averaged 0.9 assists per game while averaging 1.2 turnovers. An assist/turnover ratio below 1.0 is far from ideal for a point guard.
As I said, Jackson showed signs of being able to transition to the point. His athleticism is off the charts, so with proper coaching, he could transition. However, there has been little evidence of his desire to pass first. He played with two guards who combined for about 10 assists per game (Elliot Cadeau 6.2, RJ Davis 3.6). Maybe that is the reason he didn’t make more plays for others. However, when a player averages less than one assist per game, it’s hard to imagine them filling in and supplying anything similar to previous production (Kadary Richmond averaged 5.3 assists per game, and Deivon Smith averaged 3.9).
Why Ian Jackson Could Play Point Guard in a Positionless System
Ian Jackson won’t be Braden Smith for St. John’s. He probably isn’t going to average five assists per game. However, this roster is full of players with a similar style. They can all shoot relatively well and crash the rim if necessary. If St. John’s wants to maximize this roster and play them all at the same time, they could resort to a more positionless system. Jackson could bring the ball up at point guard, but once they’re in the frontcourt, they could change up their method of attack.
Jackson won’t look to pass first. Neither will Bryce Hopkins, Joson Sanon, or Oziyah Sellers. Together, they combined for 5.5 assists per game in their last full seasons. However, with Pitino at the helm, I could see any one of them driving to the basket to find open players. They could hit backdoor passes for easy buckets. They won’t finish at the top in assist totals, but there is a world where Jackson leads the way with about three assists per game, with the others averaging around two. That would supply meaningful playmaking without putting pressure on one person. They all could run the point at some point, leaving a relatively positionless lineup on the floor.
Why Pitino is Taking a Huge Risk
Jackson has no experience playing point guard at the collegiate level. They are relying on several elite scorers to get easy shots for others. Sometimes, elite players can do both. Jackson will have to play this position if he wants to be an NBA player someday. However, without a proven point guard on the roster, who will calm things down when the play gets hectic? Who will handle the pressure in the backcourt late in games? Who will make the right pass when double to move the ball down the floor? Point guards are a crucial part of the game. Guards win in March. It could work out for Rick Pitino, but for the second straight season, St. John’s has a huge flaw.
Photo credit: © Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
