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Georgia Tech Basketball: Rodney Howard A Big Addition for Jackets Bench

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 26: Head coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts during their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 26: Head coach Josh Pastner of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts during their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The transfer addition of center Rodney Howard is a big addition to a Georgia Tech bench heading into next season.

Last week, we discussed Georgia Tech’s performance this past season and the expectations that the program will have entering next season. One thing we said that had to get better, however, was the Jackets depth coming off the bench.

On Monday night, former Georgia Bulldog Rodney Howard announced that he would be transferring from the Bulldog program to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, joining Josh Pastner’s program in time for the 2020-21 season.

The addition of Howard to the roster is huge for the Yellow Jackets, despite Howard’s role for next season not being known.

A former three-star recruit, Howard was the No.48 ranked center in the 2019 recruiting class out of Legacy Charter High School in Roswell, South Carolina. Howard, originally committed to the Bulldogs during his recruitment, picking the SEC program over the Yellow Jackets.

As a freshman for Georgia this past season, Howard played in 24 games for the Bulldogs, starting in two games and averaging 7.3 minutes per contest. In his 24 games, Howard was strong in his shooting, hitting 56.5% of his shots from the field. He did, however, struggle from the free throw line, hitting just five of his 18 free-throw attempts. Overall, he averaged 1.3 points per game and 1.5 rebounds per game.

https://twitter.com/RodneyHoward24/status/1242264833975824388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1242264833975824388&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2F247sports.com%2Fcollege%2Fgeorgia-tech%2FArticle%2FGeorgia-Tech-Adds-Rodney-Howard-From-the-Transfer-Portal-145337999-145337999%2F

Entering next season, the Yellow Jackets are searching for a new starting center as James Banks III finished up his senior season this past year. Howard is now the only true center on the Yellow Jackets roster and will be joined by seven-footer Saba Gigiberia in the upcoming months. Gigiberia is ranked as the No.23 center in the 2020 recruiting class per 247Sports. Additionally, 6-foot-9 big man and three-star prospect Jordan Meka will be joining the Jackets roster as well.

While it remains to be seen who the Jackets starting center will be for the 2020-21 season, Howard’s addition on paper is a big one for the Yellow Jackets especially if the NCAA does approve the measure that will allow all athletes a “one free transfer”. If the NCAA does as they are expected, Howard will be immediately eligible for the Jackets in 2020. While he didn’t have a dominating freshman season by any means, Howard’s addition gives the Yellow Jackets a quality option at center to have as starter or come off the bench.

Over the past few years, the Yellow Jackets have struggled with having consistent presences off the bench outside a select pick of players. Howard will give the Yellow Jackets that depth especially with Gigberia and Meka joining the program.

The Yellow Jackets recent success at the center position with quality careers out of both Ben Lammers and James Banks III should give Tech fans faith that Pastner and assistant coach Eric Reveno will be to grow Howard, Gigiberia, and Meka into quality big men who will be able to produce for the Jackets on the court.