St. John's Red Storm Ian Jackson learning from ‘big brother’ Donovan Mitchell as St. John’s hopes for a breakout By Zach Braziller Published Oct. 1, 2026, 8:37 p.m. ET Guard Ian Jackson of the St. John's Red Storm reacts after hitting a shot during the second half on March 22, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post 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.
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“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.
