ACC Preview: #2 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Projected Starters
C-Ra'Sean Dickey 6'9 255 JR- 13.2ppg 6.8rpg 1.5blk 60%FG 72%FT
PF-Jeremis Smith 6'6 230 JR- 11.0ppg 8.2rpg 49%FG 55%FT
SF-Thaddeus Young 6'8 205 FR- Top 5 recruit
SG-Anthony Morrow 6'5 205 JR- 16.0ppg 4.5rpg 44%FG 89%FT
PG-Javaris Crittenton 6'4 185 FR- Top 10 recruit

Background
Out of any team in the country, Georgia Tech fans have the most to be excited about. With their mix of talented veterans and a top 5 freshman class, the Yellow Jackets have very high expectations heading into the season. After their 4-12 ACC campaign last year, coach Hewitt and the team will be itching to return Georgia Tech to national prominence.

Premiere Players
After 2004, Tech lost its top five scorers and coach Hewitt was desperate for someone to emerge as the go-to scorer on a brand new Yellow Jacket team. Anthony Morrow filled that role and more, easily taking the honor of most improved player in the ACC. Now Morrow will likely garner all-ACC honors, and should feed well with the outstanding group surrounding him as the scoring load won’t be completely placed on his shoulders. Morrow is the best shooter on the team, boasting outstanding good three-point and field goal percentages. Elsewhere, Georgia Tech will get great contributions out of their two star freshmen- guard Javaris Crittenton and forward Thaddeus Young. For Paul Hewitt to go out and get these two heralded high school talents shows his recruiting rivals the best in college hoops. Crittenton is a valuable point guard who can shock a defense with his speed and moves to the basket. His mid-range shooting game is at a college level. With his height, Crittenton will be able to work well without the ball, getting into the paint and adding a strong post game to his repetoire. I’m sure Hewitt will want to polish his point guard skills before that, though. The other freshman is Thaddeus Young, who is basically the perfect basketball player. His all-around game makes Young the biggest recruit in school history and maybe the best high school player not named Greg Oden. Young has height, can shoot, can post-up, possesses NBA ball control and you get that vibe watching him that he knows he’s going to score. Young is surely an NBA lottery pick whenever he decides to enter the draft.

Role Players
Ra’Sean Dickey and Jeremis Smith were reliable, double-digit scorers for Tech last year, but with the flood of incoming scoring ability, look for those numbers to go down. All this means is that Georgia Tech is one of the deepest teams in the conference. Dickey really blossomed last season into a boatload of potential for Hewitt, and at times looked like an unstoppable force in the post. Other times, he would get into foul trouble easily, play out of control and be too passive. Tech will need his rebounding and shot-blocking ability more than his scoring this season. Jeremis Smith is an undersized power forward who plays with 100% effort and hustle every minute of the game. He’s my favorite Georgia Tech player- scrappy, fighting for rebounds, always diving for loose balls, getting key offensive boards and put-backs when the team needs them most, etc. Smith is the leading returning rebounder in the ACC heading into this season and he is 6’6. That is all the evidence you need right there. On the bench, GT shows their depth. Lewis Clinch is a deadly three-point shooter, and Mario West is the defensive specialist. It’s this great mix of talent that makes me so excited about GT’s prospect in 2006-07.

Final Thoughts
Don’t play the inexperience card with Georgia Tech. Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton will impress hoops fans around the nation with their scoring ability and senior-like control the game. Hewitt has the total package for a strong run this season with three double-digit returning scorers, the leading rebounder in the ACC, the best defensive player in the ACC and a top five recruiting class.

Schedule and Projection
11/10 vs. Elon- W
11/13 vs. Jackson State- W
11/16 vs. Georgia State- W
11/20 (N) vs. Purdue- W
11/21 (N) vs. Memphis- W
11/22 (N) vs. UCLA- L
11/28 vs. Penn State- W
12/3 @ Miami- W
12/9 @ Vanderbilt- W
12/18 vs. Centenary- W
12/22 vs. Georgia- W
12/28 vs. Troy- W
12/30 vs. St. Francis- W
1/13 vs. Winston-Salem State- W
1/6 @ Clemson- W
1/10 vs. Duke- W
1/13 vs. Florida State- W
1/20 @ North Carolina- L
1/24 @ Maryland- W
1/28 vs. Virginia Tech- W
1/30 @ Wake Forest- L
2/3 vs. Clemson- W
2/6 vs. NC State- W
2/11 vs. Connecticut- W
2/13 @ Florida State- W
2/18 @ Duke- L
2/21 vs. Wake Forest- W
2/24 @ Virginia- W
3/1 vs. North Carolina- L
3/4 vs. Boston College- W

Projected Record: 25-5 (12-4)