Georgia Tech Basketball: Jackets add a much-needed scorer in Bubba Parham

Georgia Tech basketball needed to improve in one major area on the roster heading into this offseason; finding an elite scoring option. On Tuesday, the Jackets found their man in Bubba Parham.

Georgia Tech’s search on the recruiting trail for a great scorer hasn’t gone so well but the Yellow Jackets coaching staff was able to turn to the transfer portal and have now found their man.

Late Tuesday night, former VMI Kaydet Bubba Parham announced that he will be transferring to Georgia Tech to finish out his eligibility. The Snellville, Georgia native is transferring out of VMI after just two seasons and is coming off a tremendous sophomore campaign. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 21.4 points per game this past season and shot a tremendous .397 from three-point range. His overall shooting line was .425/.397/.794 while also averaging 3.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game.

Parham can truly only be described as a scorer as he’s able to get it done in all parts of the court but as noted just above, especially from beyond the arch. Per game last season, Parham averaged 3.6 three-pointers per game.

For those worried Parham was only a tremendous scorer because of a weak conference or weak out of conference schedule, it should ease your mind that the Georgia native had a 35-point game this season against Kentucky.

As only a sophomore Parham will have to sit out this upcoming season but will then have two-years remaining of eligibility that he could play for the Yellow Jackets. He, of course, could apply for a waiver from the NCAA in hopes of playing next season but it’s no guarantee he would receive it.

For the Jackets though, Parham adds a much needed elite scorer. There’s no other way to put it, the offensive the last two years has been putrid at times and with the loss of Josh Okogie last offseason, it was even worse this year.

The Jackets in 2020-2021 will have a tremendous cast of guards at that point (if all stay). They’ll have senior guard Jose Alvarado, junior guard Michael Devoe, and now Bubba Parham. If Parham can step in and be an elite scorer, it should take some pressure of Alvarado and Deove.

That being said, Georgia Tech will still have to get the job done next year without Parham at their disposal. The Jackets were able to bring in Asanti Price from the 2020 recruiting class but it’s hard to say just how much of an impact he’ll have this upcoming season.

Either way, for the Yellow Jackets, Parham is a huge win for both Josh Pastner and the program overall. Pastner was able to prove he could bring in elite talent to the program and the program will of course benefit by adding one of the premier scorers in all of college basketball all season.