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It was a big day for Georgia Tech and Baylor, who received good news with players who withdrew from the NBA Draft. Plus, BYU added an incoming freshman and we hand out transfer grades in the ASUN.
While the transfer news is drying up, it’s time for players to withdraw from the NBA Draft.
Let's get to it.
1. Georgia Tech’s roster gets back some sting
Baye Ndongo isn’t a household name, but the 21-year-old forward put together a nice highlight reel during the G-League Elite Camp, making him a candidate to stay in the NBA Draft.
Instead, Georgia Tech got some terrific news on Tuesday.
Round ✌️ 🔜
@BayeAbdouNdong1 🐝
— Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball (@GTMBB)
7:13 PM • May 21, 2024
As a freshman this season, Ndongo showcased strong two-way ability, averaging 12.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.1 bpg, and starting all 29 games. He doesn’t have much of a perimeter game — he was just 4-of-12 from beyond the arc — so teams will sag off him until that shot develops.
Still, he and fellow freshman, point guard Nait George, were given freedom to play through their mistakes. Now they’ll be among the premier sophomore duos in the ACC.
The Yellow Jackets also have Oklahoma transfer Javian McCollum to help George in the backcourt. McCollum averaged 13.3 ppg in his lone season in Norman; he’s a speedy scoring threat alongside George’s cerebral playmaking prowess.
Now the question becomes how much growth the Jackets make in Year 2 under coach Damon Stoudamire. They were just 14-18 this season, but did have nice wins over Duke and North Carolina. Having Ndongo and George make a sophomore jump would be a significant factor.
2. Two more transfers withdraw from NBA Draft
Georgia Tech wasn’t the only school that benefitted from players withdrawing Tuesday from the NBA Draft.