Georgia Tech’s Howard to return for Wednesday game vs. Wake Forest

Georgia Tech center Rodney Howard (24) looks for a open teammate in the first half of the Holiday Hoopsgiving tournament Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Daniel Varnado/ For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Daniel Varnado

Credit: Daniel Varnado

Georgia Tech center Rodney Howard (24) looks for a open teammate in the first half of the Holiday Hoopsgiving tournament Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Daniel Varnado/ For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Out with an ankle injury for four weeks, Georgia Tech center Rodney Howard will play Wednesday night against Wake Forest, coach Josh Pastner told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Wednesday.

Pastner said Tuesday that Howard practiced Monday at full speed and had no soreness in his ankle or foot, and was to practice again Tuesday as the Yellow Jackets prepared for their home game against the Demon Deacons. Howard last appeared in a game Dec. 21 against Georgia State.

“Assuming he gets through practice all good, then he should be cleared to be able to play (Wednesday),” Pastner said.

Howard evidently passed the test, clearing him to return to play Wednesday.

Pastner said Tuesday that he did not know how much he would play Howard, or if he would start. Howard had started the Jackets’ first 11 games at the time of the injury. He has missed the past five, of which Tech has lost four. Pastner has elected to go with a smaller lineup featuring forward Jordan Usher at center over backup post players Jordan Meka and Saba Gigiberia, which has enabled the Jackets to play their Princeton offense but has weakened the defense.

Guard Bubba Parham will not play because of soreness in his knees. Pastner has increasingly indicated that Parham may not play for the rest of the season.

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