It’s one thing to get advice from a legendary coach like Rick Pitino. It’s another to hear from one of his greatest players, NBA All-Star Donovan Mitchell. 

In that vein, Ian Jackson has the best of both worlds. 

“It’s huge,” Jackson said of his relationship with Mitchell. “I’ve learned a lot from him. He’s been a big brother to me ever since I met him. That’s my guy.” 

The 6-foot-5 St. John’s guard was first introduced to Mitchell through NBA trainer Chris Brickley when he was in high school. They have remained close. This summer, they got together for a handful of workouts and Jackson appeared alongside Mitchell in an Adidas commercial to promote Mitchell’s sneaker line.