Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Overall Rank: #27
Conference Rank: #5 ACC
Georgia Tech is back. Coach Nell Fortner quickly appears to have turned a program that had been struggling for the better part of a decade. The Yellow Jackets finished in seventh place last season in the ACC. The program had not finished higher in the ACC pecking order since way back in 2011-2012. With a great recruiting class the future is very bright, but with four starters returning, the immediate future shines too.
2019-20 Record: 20-11, 10-8
Coach: Nell Fortner
Coach Record: 20-11 at Georgia Tech, 181-127 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Francesca Pan, Guard, 13.4 ppg
Jasmine Carson, Guard, 9.7 ppg
Anne Diouf, Forward, 1.3 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Kierra Fletcher, Senior, Guard, 10.2 ppg
Lorela Cubaj, Senior, Forward, 10.0 ppg
Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, Junior, Guard, 9.1 ppg
Nerea Hermosa, Sophomore, Center, 6.5 ppg
Sarah Bates, Junior, Guard, 1.1 ppg
Key New Players
Anaya Boyd, Freshman, Guard
Avyonce Carter, Freshman, Guard
Anisa Clark, Freshman, Guard
Eylia Love, Freshman, Guard/Forward
Loyal McQueen, Freshman, Guard
Ronni Nwora, RS Freshman, Forward/Center
Aixa Wone Aranaz, Soiphomore, Forward, Transfer from Ohio State, pending waiver
Projection:
Kierra Fletcher and Lotta-Maj Lahtinen are back to form a formidable backcourt. Fletcher averaged 10.2 points per game and added 6.2 rebounds and a team high 3.1 assists. Lahtinen added 9.1 points. Those two will do plenty of scoring by attacking the basket, but the concern is that neither are great three-point shooters. The team as a whole made just 4.5 long balls per game and was even worse when it came to their three-point shooting percentage. Lahtinen is the only returning player who made more than seven three-pointers last season so it will be up to her to provide a somewhat consistent outside shooting threat. Senior Lorela Cubaj and sophomore Nerea Hermosa will hold down the frontcourt. Most of the depth will have to come from the newcomers, but that should not be a problem. The Yellow Jackets have four top-100 recruits who are expected to contribute. Anaya Boyd highlights the group and she should add another scoring threat to the perimeter. If those new pieces live up to their potential, Georgia Tech will have the depth they need to finally finish above seventh in the ACC.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 61.8 (233rd in nation, 12th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 52.5 (5, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 40.2 (146, 9)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.6 (105, 5)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.5 (289, 13)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 27.8 (299, 14)
Free-Throw Percentage: 67.0 (241, 12)
Rebound Margin: 5.8 (44, 3)
Assists Per Game: 12.6 (193, 11)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.4 (37, 3)
Madness 2020 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#25 Anaya Boyd
#85 Eylia Love
#86 Avyonce Carter
#94 Loyal McQueen
