Former South Carolina forward GG Jackson has played his way into the future plans of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The 45th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Jackson began his NBA career on a two-way contract with the Grizzlies. On Thursday, he agreed to a new four-year contract with the franchise that includes three guaranteed seasons, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

For a Memphis team that is missing huge pieces of its rotation, Jackson has become a key figure. From Oct. 25 through Jan. 7, Jackson was inactive for 26 games, logged DNP-CDs in six other games, and made four brief appearances.

On Jan. 13 against the New York Knicks, Jackson got his first extensive action of the season and responded by providing a career-best 20 points in 27 minutes. Two nights later, in a win over Golden State, he scored 23 points in 29 minutes while hitting five of his eight 3-point attempts.

Since that Knicks appearance, Jackson has averaged 13.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 24 minutes a night.

In 32 minutes against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night, Jackson scored a career-high 27 points (9-18 FG, 4-9 3P) to go with a career-high nine rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

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A Columbia native and a Ridge View High product, Jackson spent one season at South Carolina, where he started in 29 of his 32 appearances and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. He averaged 15.4 points — the ninth-best mark in the SEC and the fifth-best in the country by a freshman. He also produced 11 20-point games, the most by a Gamecock freshman since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1991-92.

Jackson is looking like another draft steal for the Grizzlies, and his future in Memphis is now secure.