Given recent developments, it may be surprising to recent college basketball fans that Georgia Tech played in the national title game just twenty years ago. The program has struggled in recent years, though Damon Stoudamire’s team showed promise last season in his first year as head coach. Nevertheless, Georgia Tech finished 14-18 and now faces an even larger ACC.
Despite the departure of top scorer Miles Kelly to Auburn, the Yellow Jackets return two promising sophomores, Naithan George and Baye Ndongo. Additionally, Stoudamire and his staff have been active in the Transfer Portal to address other gaps in the lineup.
While there aren’t many new additions to the team this season, former Georgetown center Ryan Mutombo and ex-Colorado guard Luke O’Brien could both play significant roles. However, the most crucial new player is Javian McCollum, the highlight of their offseason acquisitions.
McCollum is joining his third school, having spent two seasons at Siena before moving to Oklahoma last year. He made significant progress as a sophomore at Siena and continued to be a key offensive player at Oklahoma, averaging 13.3 points and 3.4 assists per game last season. He led the Sooners in scoring and was one of the best free throw shooters in the nation, hitting 94% of his attempts. McCollum has also improved as a long-range shooter and reduced his turnovers last season at Oklahoma. His game has evolved, making him a desirable offensive asset for Stoudamire or any coach.
Georgia Tech exemplifies a team that found a leader in the Transfer Portal. McCollum is expected to lead the team in scoring and his experience and leadership will be crucial for the Yellow Jackets’ success. With the ACC expanding to 18 teams, the challenge is greater, especially after losing key players, but McCollum aims to bring positive change.
McCollum’s ability to build on last year’s success with Oklahoma will significantly impact Georgia Tech’s season. Can the Yellow Jackets surprise everyone and compete in an ACC that has largely been out of reach for two decades? Will the rest of the roster provide enough support around McCollum to make this a competitive season?
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