High School

Columbus Star Marcellous “Cello” Jackson Narrows Recruitment to Nine SchoolsSchools

The 6-foot-5 senior small forward has official visits scheduled to Arkansas State and Memphis after helping Columbus win a fourth straight state title

Ross Van De Griek

4-star Senior Small Forward Marcellous "Cello" Jackson Revealed His Top 9 Schools on Saturday
4-star Senior Small Forward Marcellous "Cello" Jackson Revealed His Top 9 Schools on Saturday / Photo by Tyler Hart

Marcellous "Cello" Jackson, A 6-foot-5 senior small forward out of Columbus High School in Miami, Florida is one step closer to a commitment after narrowing down his top schools to nine on Saturday, Jackson posted on his Instagram account.

Jackson's Top Nine Schools Feature Multiple ACC Programs

Jackson will choose between:

  • Arkansas State
  • California
  • Memphis
  • Murray State
  • Penn State
  • Seton Hall
  • Temple
  • Texas State
  • Virginia Tech

National Ranking and Recruiting Profile

The 6-foot-5 senior wing is rated as the No. 139 overall player in the nation, the No. 48 small forward, and the No. 22 overall player in the state of Florida for the Class of 2026, according to 247Sports.

Upcoming Visits

Jackson will take a couple of official visits next month:

  • Arkansas State on September 13
  • Memphis on September 19.

Grassroots Circuit Success

Jackson played for Nightrydas Elite, a South Florida-based program that plays on the Nike EYBL Circuit.

EYBL Session 1 (Phoenix): 11.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
Peach Jam: 10.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game

Championship Success at Columbus

The Explorers finished the 2024-2025 season with a 27-3 record and were led by Cameron and Cayden Boozer alongside Jackson winning the school's fourth consecutive state championship as well as making a run in their second Chipotle Nationals appearance, where they won their first national championship in program history back in April.

What Jackson Is Saying About Three of His Finalists

In an interview with Sam Lance of ZagsBlog, Jackson shared thoughts on some of his top programs:

  • California: “They are a little structured basketball. For me, with my play style, I think I would be more likely to get available paint touches. Getting a lot of assists per game and hitting my shooters.”
  • Memphis: "Coach (Hardaway), That’s where I’m from. I’m originally from Memphis, Tennessee. I mean, they play my playstyle. Grit and grind basketball team. Defensive-minded. Just scoring off transition, off defense. I love that program very much, and I would love to play back home.” 
  • Seton Hall: “They came to see me like my third week at Columbus. They just saw me at practice, my intensity. "Guarding Cayden (Boozer) everyday because I knew that would get me better. They offered me then and then they came to see me in New York at the Jordan Brand Classic.” 

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Ross Van De Griek
ROSS VAN DE GRIEK

Ross Van De Griek has been a high school sports writer covering the state of Florida since 2021. Ross also has been scouting high school basketball and Grassroots Basketball across the Southeast Region since 2022. Ross has been covering basketball and recruiting for High School on SI since August 2024. He has collaborated with Next Up Sports, Prep Hoops, and On The Radar Hoops throughout his scouting career. You can follow him on X @rossvdg14 or reach him via email rossvdg14@gmail.com for story ideas.

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