Kyle Sturdivant, Rodney Howard transfers to Georgia Tech made official
Georgia Tech announced Tuesday the signings of transfers Rodney Howard and Kyle Sturdivant, who will enroll at Tech after transferring from Georgia and USC, respectively.
That made official what the players themselves, who both have three seasons of eligibility remaining, made public at the time of their decisions.
“I’m excited about both young men,” coach Josh Pastner told the AJC. “Both can be really good contributors at Georgia Tech for a long time.”
Howard, a 6-foot-11 center who is from Alpharetta and played his sophomore and junior seasons at Centennial High, averaged 1.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 7.3 minutes in 24 games for the Bulldogs this past season. Pastner called him a physical post player who runs the floor hard and sets good screens. With only Moses Wright returning among frontcourt players, Howard has a chance to play immediately. (The NCAA will vote May 22 on legislation that would grant all Division I athletes immediate eligibility after their first transfer. The measure is expected to pass.)
“We’re obviously thin upfront,” Pastner said. “We need to continue to develop Rodney.”
Sturdivant, from Norcross High, averaged 2.0 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.3 minutes per game at USC.
Pastner praised his speed and shooting ability. He compared his playmaking ability with point guard Jose Alvarado.
“I think he can play both (point and shooting guard),” Pastner said. “I think he’s just a hard-nosed guard, and he’s about winning. He’s older and he’s strong.”
They will enroll for the summer semester, although students will continue to learn in a distance-learning format.
Tech has one more scholarship available, but Pastner has said recently that "there's a good probability" that he will not add any more players.
About the Author
Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.
