Aug. 20, 2009
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech’s basketball team, which has 10 returning letterwinners and six incoming freshmen, has scheduled a trip to Windsor, Ontario for three games the weekend of Oct. 2-5.
The Yellow Jackets, who went 12-19 last season but won a game in the ACC Tournament, will play two games against the University of Windsor, and one against the University of Western Ontario. The trip occurs during Tech’s fall break, which runs from Oct. 3-6. All three games will be played at the St. Denis Centre on the University of Windsor campus.
The NCAA allows teams to take one international tour outside of its regular-season schedule every four years, and teams may practice 10 times on campus leading up to the tour. The Yellow Jackets will begin practicing Sept. 19, and depart for Windsor on Oct. 2.
“Having as many newcomers as we do this year, this is a good opportunity for them to gain experience, not only through games, but the extra practices,” said head coach Paul Hewitt. “I also believe it’s a good chance for our older players to build on the momentum we had at the end of last season.
This is Georgia Tech’s first off-season international trip since August/September 1991, when the Yellow Jackets took a 10-day trip to France.
Of Tech’s returning letterwinners, four were starters last year. Gani Lawal, a 6-9 junior forward, was the Yellow Jackets’ second-leading scorer (15.1 points per game) and top rebounder (9.5 per game) while ranking in the top five of the ACC in field goal percentage (55.6 pct.). Zachery Peacock, a 6-8 forward from Miami, Fla., who averaged 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, also returns along with 6-5 sophomore guard Iman Shumpert (Oak Park, Ill.), who averaged 10.6 points and 4.5 assists per game, and 6-1 point guard Maurice “Moe” Miller (Memphis, Tenn.), who averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 assists per game.
Lawal, a third-team All-ACC choice a year ago, is on the pre-season watch list for the John R. Wooden Award, which is presented to the national player of the year.
Hewitt also welcomes back D’Andre Bell, a 6-5 senior from Los Angeles, Calif., who missed last season following surgery for a spinal condition, and a solid group of reserves in 6-5 junior guard Lance Storrs (Decatur, Ga.), 7-0 junior center Brad Sheehan (Latham, N.Y.) and 6-3 guard Nick Foreman (Bellaire, Texas).
The incoming freshman class, headed by Parade, McDonald’s and USA Today All-American Derrick Favors, a 6-9 post player from Atlanta, Ga., has been ranked as high as fourth in the nation.
Tech’s full 2009-10 schedule will be announced next week.
Schedule of games in Windsor, Ontario October 3 – vs. University of Windsor, 7 p.m. October 4 – vs. University of Western Ontario, 3 p.m. October 5 – vs. University of Windsor, 7 p.m.
