May 2, 2014
THE FLATS – Former South Florida basketball player Josh Heath has signed grant-in-aid paperwork and will transfer to Georgia Tech, head coach Brian Gregory announced Friday. Heath will enroll at Tech for the summer session.
The 6-2, 165-pound guard played one season for his father, Stan, at South Florida last year, and elected to transfer after his father and USF parted ways. Set to red-shirt during the 2013-14 season, he dressed and played for the first time on Jan. 9 after an injury to guard Anthony Collins, played 17 games and started the last four of the season as the Bulls finished 12-20.
Tech plans to seek legislative relief from the NCAA via the waiver process to enable Heath to compete immediately upon enrollment. Heath will have three years of eligibility at Tech.
“We are very excited about adding a player of Josh’s caliber to our program,” said Gregory. “The experience he gained as a freshman will be a valuable asset in his transition to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Josh has a high basketball IQ, can create scoring opportunities, and makes intelligent basketball decisions. He is a great fit for our program in terms of talent, character and academic success.”
Heath finished the season with averages of 2.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and a team-best 3.6 assists in 17 games. He posted a 2.2 assist/turnover ratio, which ranked No. 2 in the American Athletic Conference in conference-only games, and finished the season with 62 assists and 27 turnovers, a 2.3 ratio. Heath scored a season-best eight points in the first round of the conference tournament against Rutgers.
Before enrolling at USF, Heath attended Tampa Prep, where he averaged 11.9 points, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game, leading the Terrapins to a 27-3 record, and earned first-team Class 3A All-State honors as a senior. Heath posted 12.4 points, 7.1 assists and 2.5 steals as a junior while helping lead the Terps to the Class 3A state championship. During Tampa Prep’s state championship run, Heath was named the Tournament MVP as he put up 36 points, 16 assists and 14 rebounds during the semis and final.
Heath joins three incoming freshmen in the Yellow Jackets’ program – 6-10 post player Abdoulaye Gueye from Dakar, Senegal by way of Central Park Christian in Birmingham, Ala., 6-2 guard Tadric Jackson from Tift County High School in Tifton, Ga., and 6-10 center Ben Lammers from Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, Texas.
About Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball
Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team is beginning 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, 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.
