Georgia Tech basketball player Brian Oliver has decided to transfer, leaving the Yellow Jackets with eight scholarship players for coach Brian Gregory’s first season.
Oliver, who almost certainly would have received ample playing time had he returned, said he respected and liked Gregory, but “I just felt like it was in my best interest to make that change.”
Oliver, from Delaware, also cited a desire to be closer to home.
As a sophomore forward in the 2010-11 season, Oliver started 12 of 22 games, missing the last eight with a broken thumb. He averaged 28.0 minutes, 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. Oliver said he began to consider transferring after coach Paul Hewitt was fired at the end of the season, but wanted to give Gregory a chance.
Oliver is in classes at Tech and will complete the term.
Oliver, who is no relation to the former Tech star with the same name, said he would like to play in an offense that would suit his perimeter shooting game. He played power forward last season. He concluded that “there was probably something a little different out there that would be more helpful towards my game.”
Oliver said he wouldn’t be surprised if he landed at a Big East school. He also didn’t rule out George Mason, a Colonial Athletic Association school in Fairfax, Va. George Mason hired Hewitt at the end of April.
Gregory said the fact a player decided to transfer didn’t surprise him, calling it “commonplace” for a team with a coaching change.
Oliver’s decision leaves Tech, which went 13-18 overall and 5-11 in the ACC, in no small bind for the upcoming season. Guard Iman Shumpert, their far-and-away best player, left early for the NBA draft. Oliver was the team’s third leading scorer last season and has shown an accurate 3-point stroke.
On top of having only eight scholarship players, half of them are guards. All four walk-ons are also guards.
“It adds a new twist to next year’s challenges, there’s no doubt about it,” Gregory said.
Gregory, who has five scholarships to give, said he doesn’t intend to sign another player for the upcoming year.
“We’re always looking, but obviously, there’s a limited scope of candidates, as well,” he said.
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