Georgia Tech’s season starts Friday with the opener against Tennessee Tech. For coach Josh Pastner, Wednesday begins a different type of season that is equally critical.
The early signing period for basketball prospects begins Wednesday and runs through Nov. 16. Tech is among the final choices for many of the top recruits in the state, though Pastner and his staff have a tough field of competition.
“We’ve had great official visits, we’ve covered a lot of ground,” Pastner said. “We just need one or two to pull the trigger.”
Pace Academy forward Wendell Carter (ranked No. 3 in the country ESPN), Pebblebrook High guard Collin Sexton (No. 10), Norcross High forward Rayshaun Hammonds (No. 38) and Greenforest Christian Academy center Ikechukwu Obiagu (No. 42) are all expected to sign during the early period. Tech was included on each players’ lists of finalists.
Signing any one of the four would be a coup for Pastner and a considerable statement on the work done by him and his staff. Having been hired in April to replace Brian Gregory, Pastner and his staff have had to catch up in developing relationships with prospects and their inner circles that rival coaches have been establishing for a year or more.
“We’ve worked as hard as any staff in the history of mankind has worked on this recruiting, but we might come away with not signing too many guys,” Pastner said. “So it’s not for a lack of work ethic. Things happen. That’s why you’ve got to get a little lucky in recruiting.”
Carter’s finalists are Duke, Harvard, Georgia and Tech. Sexton’s are Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, N.C. State, Oklahoma State and Tech. Hammonds’ final four are Georgia, Tech, Memphis and Texas. Obiagu had a top six of Baylor, Florida State, Long Beach State, Maryland, N.C. State and Tech.
Hammonds and Sexton have scheduled to make their announcements Thursday, Hammonds at Norcross and Sexton at ESPNU’s studio in Charlotte, N.C. Carter and Obiagu’s plans are less clear.
Tech has already secured a commitment from point guard Jose Alvarado from Brooklyn. Pastner will have six scholarships that he can use for the 2017 class, though he may not use all of them, instead reserving some for transfers or future signing classes.
If Tech does not sign any of the four, coaches have a lower tier of prospects that they have also been recruiting that they will attempt to sign in the regular signing period in April.
