Transfer Ja’von Franklin Signs Grant-in-Aid with TechTransfer Ja’von Franklin Signs Grant-in-Aid with Tech
Men's Basketball

Transfer Ja’von Franklin Signs Grant-in-Aid with Tech

All-Sun Belt Conference forward at South Alabama joining Yellow Jackets

THE FLATS – Ja’von Franklin, an All-Sun Belt Conference forward in the 2021-22 season at South Alabama, has signed a grant-in-aid to join the Georgia Tech program and will enroll for the summer term.

The 6-7, 220 pound forward from Little Rock, Ark., was South Alabama’s third-leading scorer last season, averaging 12.2 points per game while leading the team in rebounding at 7.8 per game. He shot 65.5 percent from the floor and 63.9 percent from the foul line while leading USA in blocked shots (43). He started 31 of 32 games played, averaging 28 minutes per game, and helped lead the Jaguars to a 21-12 overall record and a 9-7 mark in the Sun Belt Conference, good for fifth place. South Alabama earned an invitation to The Basketball Classic post-season tournament in Mobile, Ala., where they defeated Southeastern Louisiana and USC Upstate before falling in overtime to Coastal Carolina in the semifinals.

“We’re excited to have Ja’von join our program,” said head coach Josh Pastner. “He’s an under-the-radar, sneaky good player who had a great year at South Alabama and was successful against good teams. He’ll be a great fit with our team.”

Franklin scored in double figures in 22 of the 32 games he played for South Alabama, scoring a season-high 28 against Upstate in The Basketball Classic. He posted double-doubles in eight games, including an 18-point, 12-rebound effort at Wichita State and an 11-point, 11-reboubd game at Alabama early in the season.

He appeared in 28 games over his two seasons at Auburn, 23 as a junior, recording a career-best eight points, four rebounds and two blocks in 11 minutes at Arkansas, as well as six points, seven rebounds and three blocks at LSU. He averaged 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds as a freshman (2018-19) at Holmes (Miss.) Community College, redshirting the next season before transferring to Auburn.

Franklin was an all-state selection on the 6A level in Arkansas as a senior at Little Rock Parkview Magnet High School.

SD_Bama_02211-1USA Men’s Basketball at Alabama, Tuesday, November 16, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Scott Donaldson)

Ja’von Franklin, shown here dunking against Alabama, posted double-doubles in eight games last season, including this road game against the Crimson Tide. (photo courtesy of South Alabama athletics)

 

Alexander-Tharpe Fund

The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.   

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL

Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team won the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship in 2021 after finishing fourth in the regular season. Tech has been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1979, winning four ACC Championships (1985, 1990, 1993, 2021), playing in the NCAA Tournament 17 times and playing 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 (@GTMBB) and Instagram. For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com.