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Georgia Tech Basketball: Jackets lose out on top center to UGA

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Shembari Phillips #2 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets shoots in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Shembari Phillips #2 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets shoots in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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Georgia Tech basketball hasn’t been able to catch many breaks over the last year or so on the recruiting trail and on Wednesday they suffered another tough defeat.

Georgia Tech basketball’s recruiting the last year or so has been rough for the most part. The Jackets have struggled in landing top prospects consistently. On Wednesday, the Jackets suffered another defeat on the recruiting trail and this time to a most hated rival, the Georgia Bulldogs.

Four-star center Rodney Howard, who recently was able to get out of his LOI from Ole Miss, was down to Georgia and Georgia Tech entering this week. On Wednesday, Howard announced his commitment after taking official visits to both Georgia and Georgia Tech. Despite their best efforts on his official visit, Howard decided to commit to the Georgia Bulldogs.

For the Jackets, losing out on Howard is a tough loss as he was a potential immediate high impact player for the Jackets. The Jackets only have one center on roster right now under scholarship in James Banks III. While Banks will be the the Jackets starter this season, Howard would’ve been able to play quality minutes right away for the Jackets.

The loss on the recruiting trail is just another for the Jackets in the 2019 recruiting class. The Jackets have just one commitment in 2019 so far, that being shooting guard Asanti Price. Price, a three-star recruit is considered to be a high potential prospect but still needs a year or two of development first. That being said, the Jackets missing out on a few top prospects definitely stung and that can be seen as the Jackets have the 114th ranked class nationally and the 14th ranked class in the ACC.

Josh Pastner seat is definitely warm entering next season and with the Jackets struggles on the court and the recruiting trail struggles are only making Pastner’s seat hotter entering 2019.