Josh Pastner likes to say that part of succeeding in recruiting is being lucky. His standby example is his alma mater Arizona, which turned around behind two unheralded recruits who ultimately led the Wildcats to the Final Four before embarking on NBA careers, Sean Elliott and Steve Kerr.
Pastner will need a different sort of fortune going into the final months of the recruitment for the 2018 signing class. Perhaps the staff’s highest priority in the senior class is small forward Nassir Little of Orange Park, Fla., and Pastner and his staff are facing the most rigid competition. Little has named Tech to his final five, along with Arizona, Duke, North Carolina and Miami.
A one-and-done candidate who is rated the No. 24 prospect in the country by 247 Sports, Little is the type of prospect who could help lift the Yellow Jackets to national prominence and certify Tech as a worthy destination for four- and five-star prospects. But, on the face of it, Tech would not seem the favorite.
For Little, whose NBA aspirations are a priority in his decision, the Arizona-Duke-UNC trio have plenty to offer. That has been part of those schools’ pitch, according to Little’s AAU coach, Darryl Hardin of 1 Family, based in Orlando, Fla.
“Their sell has been what they’ve done with those kind of guys that look like him, how quickly they’ve helped them get to the next level, which is what he wants to do,” Hardin said.
What this photo says about Tech’s interest in 4-star forward Nassir Little
As an athletic, 6-foot-7 small forward, Little could indeed look at former Arizona stars such as Aaron Gordon or Stanley Johnson or ex-Blue Devils like Jayson Tatum and Brandon Ingram, all forwards with similar body types who were one-and-dones and top-10 draft picks in the past four years. North Carolina’s record with one-and-dones lately isn’t as strong, but eight first-round picks since 2012 is probably an acceptable track record.
Further, all offer Little what would seem a much better chance to play for a national championship than could Pastner.
Miami is no slouch, either. Coach Jim Larranaga doesn’t have the same NBA track record as the big three in this quintet, but his program is far more established than Pastner’s at this point.
What Tech does have is a longer relationship. Tech assistant coach Darryl LaBarrie has recruited Little almost from the time Pastner hired him last May. Arizona offered Little in early July. Carolina’s arrived at the end of the month. Duke made its offer last week. Little’s fondness for Pastner and LaBarrie is clear.
“I like them a lot,” Little said in July. “I like the coaches. I’m close with them. They’ve been the most consistent school to my recruiting. I never felt like they let up at all.”
It is the advantage that Pastner has to play at this point in competing for ACC talent.
“The number one thing in recruiting is (knowing) when to go out,” Pastner said. “And obviously, if you’re involved with a prospect for a long time, at the level we’re at, on an ACC level, then the key is being in early.”
What Tech also offers is the opportunity for plenty of playing time. On the roster, only freshmen Evan Cole and Moses Wright fit a small-forward role, and both need polish. If Little is as good as advertised, he could come to Tech, start and be a focal point of the offense. Undoubtedly, Pastner is also pitching him on the chance to be a program cornerstone, an opportunity he would not have at the other four schools.
“You can go pro from Georgia Tech just as easily as you can from Arizona or Duke,” Hardin said. “It’s just the opportunity that’s being presented to him to come in and impact the program.”
Given Tech’s attention, Little set up his first official visit there; he’ll come to campus next weekend. (He has also set up visits with Arizona, Miami and North Carolina, Hardin said.) At that point, just about all of Pastner’s cards will have been played. The staff can continue to call and text, and is permitted seven “recruiting opportunities” -- evaluations and visits – when the recruiting period begins Sept. 9.
And then Pastner and his staff will have to hope that Little will favor them with a commitment. Hardin and Little have both said that the plan is to sign in April, rather than the early signing period in November, to see how teams’ seasons and recruiting classes shake out. Hardin said that for Tech, making the NCAA Tournament would help, but is not a requirement.
“When he feels comfortable with (opportunity and fit), that’s when he’s going to pull the trigger,” Hardin said.
