Georgia Tech guard Marcus Georges-Hunt has closed his Yellow Jackets career with a season that has demonstrated his versatility, shot-making ability and late-game poise. It likely won’t get him drafted, but it should help give him a chance at the NBA.
“I think he’s opened a lot of eyes in terms of from the NBA,” NBA senior scouting director Ryan Blake said. “He plays tough, within the system. He’s clutch. He’s showed, also, when he’s not playing well that he’ll play both ends of the floor, which is very important for what we’re looking for. And those things, the intangibles, open up windows, open up doors.”
Blake said Georges-Hunt will be considered to participate in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, a pre-draft showcase event for college seniors and that teams will work him out individually. After that, if he isn’t taken in the two-round draft in June, his most likely path to the NBA could be to sign with a team to play in a summer league and then try to earn a training-camp roster spot. The NBA Development League is an option to gain experience and prove himself.
Georges-Hunt envisions himself as a combo guard, capable of playing the point and shooting guard spots. His extended run at point guard this season, as well as coach Brian Gregory assigning him to defend players at four different positions, could prove beneficial to his professional prospects, as they demonstrate his versatility.
“He’s one of those players where, if he gets the right opportunity and it’s the right fit, he could stick around a long, long time,” Gregory said.
Georges-Hunt could be getting his opportunity at a time where his strengths may better fit the NBA game, which has become more guard-oriented.
“If you look at the culture of how teams are, it’s sharing the ball, playing defense, setting screens, being a hard worker,” Blake said.
The odds are long. The D-League and European leagues are full of excellent former college players. Georges-Hunt is typically hopeful about his chances.
“I feel like, yeah, I can do it,” he said. “I just have to keep working.”
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