The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jackets lose out on Wheeler four-star forward Tucker
Highly sought-after prospect commits to Duke instead.
On the day after Georgia Tech lost out on Princeton graduate transfer Hans Brase, coach Josh Pastner lost a much bigger fish — Wheeler High forward Jordan Tucker.
Tucker announced Saturday his commitment to Duke, whose recruitment of the four-star prospect lasted about a week. Tucker spread the news from his Twitter account.
“When weighing in all the factors, one school has the right combination of academics and basketball,” Tucker wrote of Duke. “It feels like the best decision and fit for me.”
Pastner and his staff began in earnest their recruitment of Tucker following his move last summer to metro Atlanta from New York.
Tucker was a frequent visitor to Tech in that time, taking in a number of games at McCamish Pavilion.
Tech was believed to be competing with Syracuse for Tucker’s commitment when Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski moved in May 6 after another Blue Devils prospect, Kevin Knox of Tampa, Fla., chose Kentucky over Duke and North Carolina that day.
Tucker announced his scholarship offer from Duke the following day and took an official visit to the school this past week.
Tech remains at 10 scholarship players for the 201718 season, which would be the lowest number for the Jackets since former coach Brian Gregory’s first season in 2011-12, when Tech had nine scholarship players, not counting two walkons who were put on scholarship.
Pastner apparently is down to two targets for this signing class: Jonesboro High guard M.J. Walker and New York forward Sidney Wilson. Brase committed to Iowa State on Friday.