No fewer than four players who have announced their intentions to transfer reportedly have had contact with Georgia Tech, three from Illinois. Tech has one scholarship available and could have two if Josh Okogie decides to stay in the NBA draft and pursue professional basketball. Tech also is recruiting Newton High guard Ashton Hagans, a rising senior who may reclassify to graduate early and enroll in college in August.
A look at the four linked to Tech.
Don Coleman, guard, California
Coleman played in 29 games, starting 21. A 6-foot-2 guard, Coleman averaged 14.7 points per game, shooting 33.5 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range. He has one season of eligibility remaining. Notably, Coleman is from Augusta and told WRDW in Augusta that he would like to be closer to home. Coleman would have to sit out a season.
Michael Finke, forward, Illinois
The 6-10 Finke is a grad transfer and could be the big man that Tech would love to have to step in following the graduation of center Ben Lammers. Finke averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game this past season, starting in 25 out of 28 games. He shot 62.9 percent on two-point field-goal attempts, although 94 of his 218 attempts were from 3-point range.
Finke, however, has a younger brother who signed to play at Grand Canyon. It hardly would be a surprise if that’s where he ended up for his final season.
Te’Jon Lucas, Illinois
A 6-foot guard from Milwaukee, Lucas is one of several Illini players leaving after coach Brad Underwood’s first season at the school. Lucas started the final 15 games of the season and averaged 4.8 points per game in 20.7 minutes per game. He shot 40.9 percent from the field. He had a 95/51 assist turnover rate. Lucas would have to sit out a season and have two to play.
Mark Smith, guard, Illinois
Smith played 19.1 minutes per game this past season, starting 19 of 31 games. He shot 33.7 percent from the field and 23.2 percent from 3-point range (16-of-69). He averaged 5.8 points per game. Smith, from Edwardsville, Ill., was his state’s player of the year as a high-school senior and a top-100 recruit. He would have to sit out a season and have three to play.
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