Last Updated on October 5, 2026 by Orlando Bloom
GG Jackson comes from an athletic and supportive family in South Carolina that played an important role in his rise from one of the country’s top high school basketball prospects to the NBA. The Memphis Grizzlies forward, whose full name is Gregory Jackson II, is the son of Gregory Jackson and LaKeysha Alston and has an older sister named Nyla Jackson.
Both of Jackson’s parents had athletic backgrounds before their son became a professional basketball player. His father played football as a defensive end during his school years, while his mother competed in track. GG has regularly credited his family with supporting his basketball ambitions from a young age. Despite becoming an NBA player while still a teenager, he has remained relatively private about his dating life.
Who Is GG Jackson’s Girlfriend?
As of now, GG Jackson has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through reliable mainstream or official sources.
Jackson has generally kept his romantic relationships away from public attention. Most interviews with the Memphis Grizzlies forward have focused on basketball, his personality, his family and his development as one of the NBA’s youngest players rather than his dating life.
Various social media discussions and entertainment websites may speculate about his relationship status, but there is not enough credible information to identify a particular person as GG Jackson’s girlfriend.
There has also been no widely verified announcement that Jackson is married or engaged. Until he chooses to make such information public, his relationship status is best described as private.
Does GG Jackson Have Children?
As of now, GG Jackson does not have any publicly known children.
His official NBA and college biographies do not mention him having a son or daughter, and there have been no reliable reports announcing that he has become a father.
Born on December 17, 2004, Jackson entered professional basketball at a particularly young age and has spent much of his early adulthood concentrating on establishing himself with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Who Are GG Jackson’s Parents?
GG Jackson’s parents are Gregory Jackson and LaKeysha Alston. South Carolina’s official basketball materials identified both as his parents during his only college season with the Gamecocks.
Jackson has spoken publicly about the athletic backgrounds of both his mother and father, suggesting that sports were a familiar part of his family environment long before he emerged as an elite basketball prospect.
GG Jackson’s Father: Gregory Jackson
Gregory Jackson is GG Jackson’s father. His son shares his name, which is why the basketball player is formally known as Gregory Jackson II.
GG has revealed that his father was an accomplished football player during his younger years and played defensive end in high school.
Gregory also played an important role in helping his son decide how seriously he wanted to pursue basketball.
Jackson has recalled that around seventh grade, when he began playing competitive AAU basketball, his father asked whether basketball was genuinely what he wanted to pursue.
GG told him that reaching the NBA was his goal. From there, basketball became an increasingly serious part of his life.
That conversation proved important because Jackson soon developed into one of the most highly regarded prospects in the United States.
How GG Jackson’s Father Helped His Basketball Career
Gregory Jackson did not simply watch his son develop from the sidelines. He encouraged GG to consider the commitment required to become a high-level basketball player.
By Jackson’s own account, his father helped him think seriously about his ambitions during the period when basketball began replacing football as his main sport.
GG eventually became a nationally ranked prospect at Ridge View High School in Columbia, South Carolina, before committing to the University of South Carolina.
His father remained part of the family support system as Jackson progressed from high school to college and eventually the NBA.
GG Jackson’s Mother: LaKeysha Alston
LaKeysha Alston is GG Jackson’s mother and has been one of the most important figures in his basketball journey.
Like her son, LaKeysha has an athletic background. Jackson has said that his mother was a standout track athlete during her school years in South Carolina.
Her experience as an athlete gave the family another direct connection to competitive sports.
LaKeysha became especially involved as GG’s basketball career accelerated. She supported him through high school recruiting, his season at South Carolina and the process that eventually took him into the NBA.
Jackson’s close relationship with his mother has also occasionally appeared in interviews. Even after becoming an NBA player, he has jokingly shown that he remains conscious of what he says when his mother is nearby.
LaKeysha Alston’s Role in GG Jackson’s Career
LaKeysha’s involvement in her son’s career extended beyond attending games and providing emotional support.
During Jackson’s transition toward professional basketball, she was involved in the group representing and advising him as he prepared for the NBA Draft.
That arrangement demonstrated the trust Jackson placed in his mother during one of the biggest decisions of his young life.
The draft process was not always straightforward, but Jackson ultimately landed with Memphis and quickly proved that he could contribute at NBA level.
Who Are GG Jackson’s Siblings?
GG Jackson has one publicly documented sibling, an older sister named Nyla Jackson.
South Carolina’s official basketball materials listed Nyla as GG’s older sister and noted that she was also attending the University of South Carolina while he played for the Gamecocks.
Nyla Jackson
Nyla Jackson is GG Jackson’s older sister.
Unlike her younger brother, Nyla has maintained a relatively private life and has not pursued the same level of public attention through professional sports.
During GG’s season at South Carolina, official university-related records noted that Nyla was also a student at the school.
That meant Jackson had an immediate family member nearby while adjusting to college life despite being significantly younger than many other freshmen.
GG has also referred publicly to growing up with an older sister. When discussing the importance of veteran South Carolina teammate Hayden Brown, Jackson joked that he had never had a big brother because he grew up with an older sister instead.
Beyond her connection to GG and her time at South Carolina, relatively little verified information about Nyla’s personal life has been made public.
Does GG Jackson Have a Brother?
Reliable official biographies identify Nyla as GG Jackson’s sibling and do not list a brother.
Jackson himself reinforced that family structure when he said during his South Carolina career that he had never had a big brother and had instead grown up with his older sister.
For that reason, Nyla remains his only publicly documented sibling as of now.
GG Jackson’s Athletic Family Background
Athletic ability runs throughout the Jackson family.
GG’s father played football as a defensive end, while his mother competed in track. GG himself initially participated in football and played quarterback before eventually choosing basketball.
Jackson has said that he actually enjoyed football considerably when he was younger. However, basketball gradually became his primary sport as his height, skill and potential became increasingly apparent.
By middle school, he had begun taking basketball much more seriously and started competing on the AAU circuit.
That decision ultimately put him on a path toward becoming one of the country’s most highly recruited high school players.
GG Jackson’s Childhood in South Carolina
Gregory “GG” Jackson II was born on December 17, 2004, in Columbia, South Carolina.
He grew up in the state and developed into an elite basketball prospect while attending Ridge View High School.
Jackson’s combination of size, athleticism and skill quickly attracted national attention. By the end of his high school career, he was regarded as one of the top prospects in his class.
He helped Ridge View win consecutive South Carolina state championships and was named the 2021-22 South Carolina Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year.
Those achievements made him one of the most celebrated young basketball players in the state.
GG Jackson’s Parents and His College Decision
Jackson initially belonged to the 2023 high school recruiting class and became one of its highest-rated players.
He eventually reclassified into the 2022 class, allowing him to begin college basketball a year earlier than originally expected.
Jackson chose the University of South Carolina, keeping him close to the family and community that had supported his development.
His decision attracted considerable attention because he was one of the highest-ranked basketball recruits in program history.
Having his older sister Nyla enrolled at South Carolina also meant that two members of the Jackson family were attending the university at the same time.
GG Jackson’s Family During His South Carolina Career
Jackson entered college at only 17 years old, making him younger than most of his teammates and opponents.
Despite his age, he immediately became one of South Carolina’s most important players.
He appeared in 32 games during the 2022-23 season and averaged 15.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
His freshman year included both impressive performances and difficult moments as he learned to handle the expectations placed on a highly rated prospect.
His family remained an important source of support throughout that period.
GG Jackson’s Journey to the NBA
After one season at South Carolina, Jackson declared for the 2023 NBA Draft.
The Memphis Grizzlies selected him with the 45th overall pick in the second round.
Jackson initially signed a two-way contract, giving him opportunities with both the Grizzlies and their NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.
He quickly exceeded expectations.
During his rookie season, Jackson became one of the most productive young players on Memphis’ injury-depleted roster and earned a standard multi-year NBA contract in February 2024.
He finished the season as a member of the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
GG Jackson Became One of the NBA’s Youngest Players
Jackson’s rapid rise was even more impressive because of his age.
He made his NBA debut before turning 19 and became the youngest player in Memphis Grizzlies history to appear in an NBA game.
During the 2023-24 season, he produced several historic performances for a teenager.
Jackson finished his rookie season with a career-high 44 points and 12 rebounds against the Denver Nuggets, setting a Memphis rookie single-game scoring record at the time.
His success gave the Jackson family another milestone to celebrate only a few years after GG began seriously pursuing his basketball ambitions.
GG Jackson’s Relationship With His Family
Jackson’s public interviews suggest that he remains close to his parents despite his rapid transition into professional basketball.
His personality is often energetic and humorous, but he has consistently acknowledged the people who supported him before his NBA success.
His father helped push him to decide whether basketball was genuinely his goal, while his mother remained closely involved throughout his development and entry into professional basketball.
His older sister Nyla also shared part of his college experience at South Carolina.
Together, Gregory Jackson, LaKeysha Alston and Nyla Jackson make up the central figures in GG’s publicly documented immediate family.
Frequently Asked Questions About GG Jackson’s Family
Who is GG Jackson’s girlfriend?
GG Jackson has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through reliable mainstream or official sources as of now. He keeps his romantic life largely private.
Is GG Jackson married?
There has been no credible public announcement confirming that GG Jackson is married.
Does GG Jackson have children?
No publicly verified reports indicate that GG Jackson has any children as of now.
Who is GG Jackson’s father?
GG Jackson’s father is Gregory Jackson. GG has said that his father played defensive end in high school and helped encourage him to take basketball seriously.
Who is GG Jackson’s mother?
GG Jackson’s mother is LaKeysha Alston. She was a track athlete during her younger years and has been closely involved in supporting her son’s basketball career.
Who is GG Jackson’s sister?
GG Jackson’s older sister is Nyla Jackson. She was also a student at the University of South Carolina when GG played basketball for the Gamecocks.
Does GG Jackson have a brother?
Official college and professional biographies identify an older sister, Nyla, as Jackson’s sibling and do not list a brother.
What is GG Jackson’s real name?
GG Jackson’s full name is Gregory Jackson II. He shares his first and last name with his father, Gregory Jackson.
Where is GG Jackson from?
GG Jackson was born in Columbia, South Carolina, on December 17, 2004.
Did GG Jackson’s parents play sports?
Yes. Jackson has said his father played defensive end in high school and his mother was a track athlete.
Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
