‘A lot of love’: Young UNC basketball players continue growth on big stage at MSG

It was a high-pressure game between two of the so-called bluebloods of college basketball — North Carolina and UCLA.

It also was a game played at Madison Square Garden, with all that comes with that.

But for Ian Jackson and Drake Powell of UNC, it was fun.

Jackson is from The Bronx, a city kid, and Powell from Pittsboro in rural North Carolina. But the two have quickly bonded into a twosome that, yes, is young, that is a pair of freshmen, two college basketball neophytes but also talented enough — both were 5-star recruits — to help the Tar Heels get where they want to go.

Watching them Saturday, in the Heels’ 76-74 comeback win over the No. 18 Bruins, was to watch their basketball maturity further evolve and deepen. Jackson, a slender 6-foot-4 and quick on quick, was bouncing all around the court, feeling it, scoring big baskets, putting up a career-high 24 points, eyeing his family in the stands all the while.

“There was a lot of love in the crowd today,” Jackson said, smiling.

For Jackson, it was his first time playing in the Garden. He grew up a Knicks fan, had seen a Knicks game at the Garden, but never had been on the court and experienced that thrill.

Not that he was nervous, he said.

“The nerves go away,” Jackson said. “I’m super confident in what I can do out there. I have a lot of faith in myself. So nerves? It was more excitement than nerves.

“To be here, in one of the most historic arenas in the world, having the family watch, hear my mom yelling … today was an amazing day.”

Hubert Davis once played at the Garden — a lot. The UNC coach spent four of his 12 NBA seasons with the Knicks after his playing days at Carolina, and invited one of his former Knicks teammates, John Starks, to talk to the team Saturday morning at the team meal.

Starks was a fiery, rough-and-tumble kind of guard who wasn’t afraid to go face to face with anyone in the league — ask Michael Jordan. And he was blunt with the Heels.

“For us, it was about what is our identity?” Jackson said. “You have to find an identity as a team. Like, every game as a team we’re going to come out and do what? And that’s something we’ve got to find and we’re still trying to find.

“But I think we took a big step today in getting that win.”

Until Saturday, UNC was seen as the team that had the talent but couldn’t get it done against the good teams on the Heels’ schedule. They were right there with Kansas, but could not hold a late lead. They were right there with Florida, but allowed the Gators to escape with a victory by claiming late offensive rebounds.

But the Heels got it done Saturday. Powell had the first basket of the game and scored the last point at the foul line. He had eight points, five rebounds and was credited with one block but might have had more.

Jackson’s 24-point performance came on 8-of-13 shooting that included a trio of 3-pointers. There were a few blemishes — he had four of UNC’s 18 turnovers — but had the kind of electric plays that had the many UNC fans buzzing.

“He’s putting his trust in himself and he’s playing his game and great things are happening from it and he need to keep it going,” UNC’s Seth Trimble said. “Not every game with be a 24-point game. Not every game will be in the Garden in front of his people. but he needs to keep going. And he knows.”

Jackson didn’t start Saturday, but only R.J. Davis had more playing time.

“I can’t go into the game thinking I should be starting,” he said. “When I get in there, it’s just, ‘Be Ian Jackson.’ Just play my game and get wins.”

Once, Jackson and Powell teamed up to trap UCLA freshman Trent Perry after a Bruins inbounds, forcing a turnover. They both looked at each other and laughed, slapping each other in the chest.

“It was really amazing because we knew him,” Powell said of Perry, a freshman. “That’s why we were so excited.”

Powell added another twist: “Drake and I are super close and I think that shows up on the court like that.”

Jackson and Powell are teammates but also roommates, and that part of the college experience has gone well, Powell said.

“It’s been great,” Powell said. “Ian, he’s very skilled. His personality is like no other. We have different personalities but that’s what makes us brothers.”

The Tar Heels (7-5) will take time for Christmas and not play until facing Campbell. on Dec. 29 Then, it’s back to the ACC. and a game at Louisville on Jan. 1.

“This is definitely a confidence booster going into Christmas,” Powell said before leaving the Garden. “This was a great Christmas present.”