General
Name is pronounced “SOBB-uh GEE-GEE-buh-REE-uh” with a hard G … Four-star post prospect originally from the Republic of Georgia who played his high school basketball in the United States … Elected to transfer following his sophomore season … Has excellent basketball IQ who can play with his back to the basket or facing the basket, with skills as a passer and ability to step out on the perimeter, and has a 7-foot-4 wingspan … Grew up playing rugby, but said his grandfather encouraged him to switch to basketball at 12 because of his height … Developed well and earned a spot with a club in Spain at 14 years old, where he played for two years before leaving for the U.S. at age 16 … Chose Georgia Tech over Boise State, Illinois, TCU and Southern California … Studying literature, media and communications.
2021-22 (sophomore)
Saw action in 15 games, averaging 7.8 minutes, 2.5 points and 2.3 rebounds … Played just two seconds (end of 1st half at Virginia Tech on 2/2) over Tech’s last 13 games … Received first career start against Wake Forest (1/19), scoring career-high eight points, career-high 16:47 court time … Followed with eight points in six minutes against Clayton State … Notched six points and six rebounds at Duke in 14:06 minutes, four points and four rebounds at UNC in 14:01, his previous long stints … Played short minutes in eight games as a freshman in 2020-21, with a high of 10:01 vs. Delaware State (2 pts, 6 reb) … Scored buckets in four games, including his first 3-pointer vs. Clemson.
2020-21 (freshman)
Played short minutes in eight games this season, with a high of 10:01 vs. Delaware State (2 pts, 6 reb) … Scored buckets in four games, including his first 3-pointer vs. Clemson
High School
Played his final year of high school at Prolific Preparatory School in Napa, Calif., for coach Joey Fuca after attending Findlay Prep in Las Vegas as a junior … Ranked as high as No. 72 nationally (247Sports) and No. 14 at his position … Averaged 8.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots in 2019-20 at Prolific Prep … At Findlay Prep his junior year (18-6 record), recorded five points and three assists per game in 18 total contests, making 37 of his 62 attempts from the field and 7 of 14 from beyond the arc
International Basketball
Played for his home country of Georgia in the FIBA U16 European Division B Championship in 2017, and in the FIBA U18 European Division B Championship in 2019
Coach Pastner says: “Saba is a legitimate 7-1 with a 7-4 wingspan, and he’s very skilled. He’s only 17 years old, so he still can get better in a lot of areas and has a chance to be a very good player. He’s skilled around the high post, has a high IQ and can pass the ball very well. He’ll fit well with how we play.”
