Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2019-2020 Overall Rank: #132
Conference Rank: #13 ACC
Josh Pastner will be entering his fourth season as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach, and the pressure is mounting to get the Yellow Jackets to their first NCAA Tournament since 2010. Georgia Tech has failed to finish above .500 the past two seasons, but they have had very young teams over that stretch. This season, four starters return for the Yellow Jackets and only one freshman will be on the roster. Expectations aren’t high for Georgia Tech, but getting back to the NCAA Tournament must remain the goal.
2018-19 Record: 14-18, 6-12
2018-19 Postseason: None
Coach: Josh Pastner
Coach Record: 48-53 at Georgia Tech, 215-126 overall
Key Departed Players:
Brandon Alston, Guard, 7.0 ppg
Abdoulaye Gueye, Forward, 6.6 ppg
Curtis Haywood, Forward, 5.6 ppg
Abdoulaye Gueye, Forward, 6.6 ppg
Curtis Haywood, Forward, 5.6 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Jose Alvarado, Junior, Guard, 12.5 ppg
James Banks, Senior, Center, 10.5 ppg
Michael Devoe, Sophomore, Guard, 9.7 ppg
Moses Wright, Junior, Forward, 6.7 ppg
Khalid Moore, Sophomore, Forward, 4.2 ppg
Evan Cole, Junior, Forward, 4.1 ppg
Kristian Sjolund, Sophomore, Forward, 3.0 ppg
Shembari Phillips, Senior, Guard, 2.1 ppg
James Banks, Senior, Center, 10.5 ppg
Michael Devoe, Sophomore, Guard, 9.7 ppg
Moses Wright, Junior, Forward, 6.7 ppg
Khalid Moore, Sophomore, Forward, 4.2 ppg
Evan Cole, Junior, Forward, 4.1 ppg
Kristian Sjolund, Sophomore, Forward, 3.0 ppg
Shembari Phillips, Senior, Guard, 2.1 ppg
Key New Players:
David Didenko, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Junior College
Asanti Price, Freshman, Guard
Jordan Usher, Junior, Forward, Transfer from USC
Asanti Price, Freshman, Guard
Jordan Usher, Junior, Forward, Transfer from USC
Projection:
Four starters return for Georgia Tech, highlighted by junior guard Jose Alvarado. Alvarado led the team in scoring (12.5), assists (3.4) and steals (1.8) as a sophomore. As an upperclassman, Alvarado could become one of the top guards in the ACC. James Banks, Michael Devoe and Moses Wright are the other three returning starters. Banks is a 6-9 center who averaged 10.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks last season and earned a spot on the ACC All-Defensive Team. Devoe is a breakout candidate after a strong all-around freshman campaign where he averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 steals and shot 39% from three. Wright started 21 games and averaged 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds. Khalid Moore, Evan Cole, Kristian Sjolund and Shembari Phillips all return to give the Yellow Jackets some important experience and depth. Georgia Tech also adds two transfers in David Didenko and Jordan Usher. Didenko is a junior college transfer originally from Russia who stands 6-8 and will have three years of eligibility. Usher transferred into Georgia Tech midway through last season after playing 12 games at USC. Usher is a former four-star recruit who was averaging 8.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists before transferring. Asanti Price rounds out the roster as a three-star freshman guard. Expectations aren’t high, but Georgia Tech has an experienced team for the first time in a while and could be a sneaky competitive team in the ACC this season.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 65.3 (326th in nation, 15th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 66.6 (53, 5)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.0 (194, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.0 (20, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.5 (338, 15)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 30.7 (331, 15)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.9 (239, 13)
Rebound Margin: -2.6 (282, 14)
Assists Per Game: 13.5 (165, 6)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.3 (294, 15)
