Being an NBA scout means trusting your gut, even when you're on an island and statistics don't verify what your eyes believe. NBA draft analyst Rafael Barlowe trusted his when he was evaluating GG Jackson.

Barlowe, the director of scouting at NBA Big Board, made a bold claim on Jackson in January 2023 when he said the South Carolina forward should be a top-five pick in the 2023 draft. Jackson was eventually selected by the Grizzlies with the 45th pick, but Barlowe isn't backing off his enthusiasm about the 19-year-old.

Barlowe even believes Jackson would be the top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft if he had returned to school.

“If he stayed in this class, he would have had another year of maturity, and the things that he’s doing right now, he’d be doing them on the college level," Barlowe told The Commercial Appeal. "I don’t think there would be anybody better.”

The evaluation of Jackson was different from that of other prospects in the 2023 class. Born on Dec. 17, 2004, and at 18 years of age, he was eligible for the draft by just two weeks. At 19, he's now the youngest player in the NBA.

That was a reason why Barlowe believed Jackson was a legitimate prospect. Jackson reclassified to 2023 after being widely regarded as the No. 1-ranked player in 2024.

At South Carolina, Jackson shot 38.4%, but part of that season was as a 17-year old. To put his age in perspective, Brandon Miller, who was drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in 2023 by the Charlotte Hornets, is 23 months older than Jackson despite both playing just one season of SEC basketball.

“My philosophy would’ve been if I’m a team, and if I draft him top five in 2023, then I really got the No. 1 pick in 2024 a year early and cheaper," Barlowe said. "Imagine what he would be doing if he was in college right now.”

Jackson has done well in the G League, averaging 20 points on 43.3% shooting and 7.3 rebounds across 22 games. He has carried that over with some promising results in his first major NBA action, becoming the youngest player since LeBron James to have back-to-back games with 20 or more points.

The differences from the college to NBA game are allowing Jackson to show off his skills.

“It’s a lot more space," Jackson told The Commercial Appeal. "Can really get in your bag a lot more. The lines are a little bit farther back, but I surprise myself even with how I’m shooting the ball.”

Jackson hears the age talk often. You would think he's annoyed by it at this point, but actually, it's the opposite. He uses it to his advantage on the floor.

“Somebody talks trash, I’m like, ‘Yo, I’m 18 and I’m giving you buckets,' " Jackson told The Commercial Appeal 10 days before his 19th birthday.

How did the Grizzlies land Jackson?

The idea of a potential No. 1 overall prospect with Jackson's skills falling to the second round is puzzling in hindsight, but it was expected in the pre-draft process. Scouts pointed out that Jackson had some "growing up to do," and that it would take him longer than other prospects to make an NBA impact.

Jackson himself admits that he had the "big head" as a five-star recruit. He wanted to shift his image. He told teams during the pre-draft process that he was prepared to play in the G League.

Still, Jackson fell into the lap of the Grizzlies with the 45th pick.

“In theory, he skipped a step," Barlowe said. "It’s already tough for teenagers going into a grown-up's world. I think some teams were scared about that. . . . So far, I think teams realize that they probably made a mistake by passing him up.”

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GG Jackson finds home with the Grizzlies

Landing in Memphis has been an ideal spot for Jackson. Now that the roster has been smacked with injuries, his development is being fast-tracked.

His ability as a 6-foot-9 forward to score off the dribble is why he went through the prep ranks highly regarded. Defense is a big area of growth the Grizzlies are emphasizing for Jackson, but Barlowe says "that's expected" for a rookie.

“I think the sky is the limit for him," Barlowe said. "I think he can be a franchise guy.”

That will be tough with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. already on the roster, but GG Jackson is fitting in so far. Morant (Dalzell) has known Jackson (Columbia) since they were kids, being in the same basketball circles in South Carolina.

If Jackson needs a free haircut in Memphis, he often calls Ja's father, Tee, to do the job. Jackson is also planning to train with Morant with hopes of developing a better floater.

It's still too soon to say whether the Grizzlies got a draft steal in Jackson, but it's trending that way. He is comfortable in his new setting, and he'll get ample opportunities down the stretch this season.

“It still feels like home a little bit," he said.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Scout: Memphis Grizzlies' GG Jackson would've been 2024 top draft pick