More than nine years after playing his last game for Georgia Tech, Jarrett Jack will complete the education he came to Tech to acquire.
Jack, a Brooklyn Nets guard in his 10th year in the NBA, completed coursework this summer, having taken summer classes during his offseason over several years. Jack will go to considerable lengths to participate in graduation ceremonies Saturday morning at McCamish Pavilion. The Nets play Friday night against Philadelphia and have a game at Charlotte Saturday night.
Jack will take a private jet after Friday night’s game back to Atlanta and another to Charlotte after celebrating with family and friends. Former Tech coach Paul Hewitt and former assistant Peter Zaharis are expected to be among those joining Jack.
“It’s just something that I definitely wanted to be a part of,” Jack said. “I’ve been working very, very hard to finish up my academic requirements and it’s just something I felt like I wanted to be part of.”
Jack was a linchpin of the Yellow Jackets' 2004 Final Four team, averaging 12.5 points and 5.6 assists and earning most outstanding player honors in the St. Louis regional. He started all but one game in his Tech career, was a two-time All-ACC selection and was picked 22nd overall in the 2005 NBA draft.
In graduating, Jack is fulfilling a promise made to his mother when he decided to turn pro after his junior season at Tech in the spring of 2005.
“I’m in a situation where I’m financially stable, living out my dream,” Jack said. “You kind of feel content with it, but my mom and dad, they were the ones who kind of stayed on me and made me see the greater good.”
(A more in-depth article about Jack's graduation will run in myajc, the AJC epaper and actual newspaper next week. I think.)
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