Georgia Tech basketball signee Romello White remains undecided on staying with the school following its decision to change coaches, replacing Brian Gregory with Josh Pastner.
Pastner has met with White, a power forward from Wheeler High, and his mother Catrece Martinez and has been hopeful about keeping him a part of the signing class. White, ranked the No. 74 prospect nationally by ESPN, signed with Tech last November when Gregory was still coach.
“At this time, we are still building a relationship with Coach Pastner,” White’s mother, Catrece Martinez, wrote in a text message Saturday night.
Martinez’ statement followed a report that White planned to ask for a release from his letter of intent on Sunday.
The family's deliberations over staying with Tech can be understandable, as White had built a relationship with Gregory and his staff over several months, only to see a change in regime at the end of the season. Martinez has spoken favorably about Gregory and how she felt he understood her son and could help him at the college level.
For Pastner, who recruited White while at Memphis, keeping White within the fold would be a valuable save. Tech will be in need of significant help following the graduation of its top four scorers and five players altogether who contributed 62 percent of its minutes and 76 percent of its scoring.
Without White, Tech would have just 10 scholarship players on board for the upcoming season, its eight returnees and the two other signees in the class, Shiloh High guard Josh Okogie and forward Christian Matthews of Fort Washington, Md.
White has experienced a bit more drama than he likely expected in his recruitment. White committed to Tennessee in Jan. 2015, but re-opened his recruitment after Volunteers coach Donnie Tyndall was fired in March following allegations of NCAA violations at his previous stop, Southern Mississippi.
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