July 20, 2013
THE FLATS – Trae Golden, a two-year starter at Tennessee, has decided to transfer to Georgia Tech and join the Yellow Jackets’ basketball program, head coach Brian Gregory announced Saturday.
The 6-2, 205-pound Golden, who hails from Powder Springs, Ga., and attended McEachern High School, played in 96 games, starting 58, during the last three seasons for the Volunteers. He has career averages of 9.7 points, 3.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds, shooting 39.7 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from three-point range.
With one year of eligibility remaining, Golden chose to complete it closer to home for family reasons. Georgia Tech will apply for a waiver from the NCAA for an exception to the year-in-residency requirement.
“We are excited about Trae joining the Yellow Jacket family,” said Gregory. “Returning home to Atlanta, close to his family, to finish out his college career was extremely important to Trae. Also, the opportunity to earn his family’s second Georgia Tech degree – his older sister graduated in 2008 – was a key factor. “
Last season, Golden started 24 of 31 games, missing two games due to injury, and averaged 12.1 points and 3.9 assists, earning second-team all-SEC recognition from ESPN.com’s Jason King. He posted career-high averages of 13.6 points, 4.5 assists, 43.9 percent floor shooting and 38.8 percent on threes as a sophomore in 2011-12.
“He has proven himself at the highest level and his experience and ability to score will help us take another step in our program’s rebuilding process,” Gregory added. “We are very confident that Trae will be a great addition and be a positive member of our program and the Georgia Tech community.”
Golden graduated from McEachern High School as the nation’s 55th-best player in the 2010 class, according to Rivals.com. He was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Georgia after averaging 29.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.2 steals, while leading McEachern to a 25-5 record and a berth in the AAAAA state playoffs. He earned first-team all-state honors as a junior and senior by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
