June 4, 2015
THE FLATS – James White, the leading rebounder and No. 2 scorer at Arkansas-Little Rock last season, has signed grant-in-aid papers and will play his final season of eligibility at Georgia Tech, head coach Brian Gregory announced Thursday.
The 6-8, 220-pound forward started 42 games over the last two seasons for the Trojans, and averaged 9.6 points while hitting 50.7 percent of his shots from the floor over his UALR career. He averaged 11.9 points in 2014-15, second on the team, and a team-high 6.6 rebounds before a stress fracture in his tibia cut short his season. He played and started 28 games in 2013-14, averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 54.3 percent from the floor. He played 32 games as a red-shirt freshman in 2012-13, starting nine, and averaged 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while hitting 50 percent of his field goal tries. He regained a year of eligibility after playing in just two games in 2011-12, then missing the rest of the season with tendonitis in his knee.
“We are excited about adding James to the Yellow Jacket family,” said Gregory. “I believe his size, athletic ability, and versatility will have a tremendous impact on our team. He plays with great energy and can affect the game in different ways.”
A native of Jonesboro, Ga., Smith attended Jonesboro High School, where he earned all-state and all-region honors his senior year, leading the Cardinals to the final four of the class AAAA state tournament and a 25-4 record. He averaged 19 points and eight rebounds.
Smith is set to receive his bachelor’s degree in health education promotion in the summer, and will be enrolled for Georgia Tech’s second fall semester which begins in August.
Smith is the third addition to the Georgia Tech roster for the 2015-16. He joins recent Virginia Tech graduate Adam Smith, a 6-1 guard from Jonesboro, Ga., who led the Atlantic Coast Conference in three-point percentage last season, and Sylvester Ogbonda, a 6-10 post player from Fort Washington, Md., who signed a letter-of-intent to play at Tech in November.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL
Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team has completed its fourth year under head coach Brian Gregory. The Yellow Jackets have been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1979, won three ACC Championships (1985, 1990, 1993), played in the NCAA Tournament 16 times and played in two Final Fours (1990, 2004). Connect with Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball on social media by liking their Facebook Page, or following on Twitter (@GTMBK).
For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com. Tickets for men’s basketball can be purchased here.
