OTR Hoops News: 4-star Small Forward Cello Jackson commits to Memphis

By: Ross Van De Griek

Four-star small forward Marcellous “Cello” Jackson announced he has committed to Memphis on Saturday. The 6-foot-5 senior shooting guard chose his hometown Tigers over Arkansas State and Murray State. Jackson also held offers from California, Florida International, George Mason, Penn State, Radford, Seton Hall, and several others.

The Memphis native attends Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida, where the Explorers have won four consecutive state championships in Class 7A, the highest classification in the Sunshine State, and claimed the Chipotle Nationals title last spring for the first time in school history.

Jackson is a straight-line finisher who is built like a linebacker, as he absorbs a ton of contact on the offensive end. His handle needs a little more consistency, where his assist-to-turnover ratio is near three turnovers per assist. On the defensive end, he is very aggressive when it comes to his physicality and footwork. His versatility and strength allow him to guard multiple positions and is very switchable.

Jackson spent the spring and summer playing for Nightrydas Elite on the Nike EYBL Circuit, where he averaged 8.4 points and 3.8 assists per game. During his junior season with Columbus, Jackson averaged 7.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 51% from inside the three-point line and 38% from behind the arc.

Jackson becomes the first Memphis commit in the 2026 recruiting cycle for Penny Hardaway.

Ross Van De Griek has been a Southeast Region Scout & Writer for On the Radar Hoops since 2024. He has been involved in basketball scouting with stops at Prep Hoops since 2022. You can follow him on X @RossVDG14 or reach him via email at rossvdg14@gmail.com