Gardner-Webb’s Jose Perez puts Georgia Tech in his final five

The Georgia Tech bench reacts as seldom-used teammate Niko Broadway makes a reverse layup for a basket in the final minutes of a 82-54 victory over Morehouse on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, in Atlanta.   Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: Curtis Compton

Credit: Curtis Compton

The Georgia Tech bench reacts as seldom-used teammate Niko Broadway makes a reverse layup for a basket in the final minutes of a 82-54 victory over Morehouse on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

Georgia Tech made the final five preferences of Gardner-Webb guard Jose Perez, who announced his entry into the transfer portal April 18. Perez, who averaged 15.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in two seasons with the Runnin' Bulldogs, announced his list of five Sunday via his Twitter account.

Perez put Tech in his top 10 the previous Sunday. The other finalists are Illinois, Iowa State, Marquette and Memphis.

Perez has two seasons of eligibility remaining. In the wake of the NCAA Division I board of directors’ recent recommendation of a delay on legislation to grant all Division I athletes immediate eligibility after their first transfer, Perez likely would have to sit out one season unless he can receive a hardship waiver.

Coach Josh Pastner has one scholarship remaining for the 2020-21 academic year. Tech also is expected to pursue Wake Forest transfer candidate Olivier Sarr, who will explore his options after the firing of Demon Deacons coach Danny Manning. A center who was named third-team All-ACC this past season, Sarr likely will be the most highly recruited transfer in this offseason. Sarr has one season of eligibility remaining, but could apply for a waiver because of Manning’s dismissal.