Pandemic led Horne to transfer to Georgia

Va. Tech’s starting power forward last season was star at Tift County High.

ATHENS — P.J. Horne needed to be closer to home, and Georgia needed help in its frontcourt. As a result, the two entities will be united this summer.

Horne, Virginia Tech’s starting power forward last season, confirmed Wednesday he plans to join the Bulldogs as a graduate transfer. The 6-foot-6, 225pound Tifton resident entered the NCAA’s transfer portal Monday and accepted UGA’s invitation to join the team Wednesday.

The coronavirus pandemic was central to Horne’s decision.

“It was a big decision my family and I had to make,” said Horne, who averaged 7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while starting 30 of 32 games for the Hokies last season. “This pandemic has taken a toll on my family, so I decided I needed to come back this way. ... Just being that far away from home and immediate family and not being able to travel as needed if I had to was the main impetus.”

Horne has been home in Tifton since college athletics shut down in March. In that time, one of his great-aunts died because of COVID-19, and another aunt tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Meanwhile, Horne’s mother works as a health-care provider at the local hospital.

“She’s doing well, staying healthy, staying strong,” Horne said of his mother, Tanya. “My aunt is getting better now, too. We’re hanging in there.”

Horne said he hopes to join the Bulldogs by July. He has one class to complete online to graduate in three years from Virginia Tech