Former UNC guard Ian Jackson lands at St. John’s; another Tar Heel enters portal
On a Monday marked by movement in Chapel Hill, one former Tar Heel is heading home, while another takes a temporary step away from the program, hoping to stay put.
Ian Jackson, the former five-star North Carolina guard and Bronx native, announced his transfer to St. John’s via Instagram, returning to New York after a promising freshman campaign in Carolina blue. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 11.9 points per game on an efficient 46% from the field and 40% from deep, earning All-ACC Freshman Team honors and emerging as one of the top young transition threats in the country.
Jackson’s commitment delivers another high-powered weapon to Rick Pitino’s loaded St. John’s transfer class — alongside Bryce Hopkins, Joson Sanon and Oziyah Sellers.
Back in Chapel Hill, another roster move surfaced Monday, though with very different intent.
North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin is entering the transfer portal, but made it clear via social media that he does so “with full intent on returning to UNC.”
“My action relates to the complexities surrounding the possible approval of the pending NCAA settlement,” Lubin said, explaining his move is a precautionary one amid the fallout from the House v. NCAA case, which will have an impact on third-party financial arrangements.
Lubin, a former transfer from Notre Dame and Vanderbilt, was a key piece down the stretch for the Tar Heels last season, averaging 14.6 points and eight rebounds in the final 11 games of the season. Lubin’s standout 20-point, 10-rebound performance in the ACC semifinal against Duke was his third double-double of the ACC Tournament. His 67.7% shooting clip was the second-best single-season mark in North Carolina history (for any player with at least 100 made field goals).
As the offseason reshapes UNC’s roster, Lubin becomes the fifth Tar Heel to enter the portal, joining Jackson, Jalen Washington, Elliot Cadeau and Cade Tyson. But while Jackson departs for a fresh start in Queens, Lubin’s move is more about maintaining flexibility in a shifting collegiate landscape — one that, on days like Monday, proves how quickly things can change.
This story was originally published April 21, 2025 at 1:22 PM with the headline "Former UNC guard Ian Jackson lands at St. John’s; another Tar Heel enters portal."
