PITTSBURGH – Monday’s news and notes involve a plethora of Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets set to depart Atlanta plus one arriving in town under a new head coach. Wake Forest and NC State transfers both make decisions on their next landing spots while a North Carolina guard/forward is close to making his own.
NC State Transfer Ebenezer Dowuona Commits to Georgia Tech
Junior transfer Ebenezer Dowuona has officially committed to Georgia Tech, according to Joe Tipton of On3sports. The former NC State big was a four-star recruit out of high school and played three years for the Wolfpack. Dowuona, 6-foot-11, started three of the 30 games he appeared in this season, averaging 1.7 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
His best campaign came last season, averaging both 4.1 points and rebounds in 31 games (27 starts) while shooting 56% from the field. Dowuona added 12 steals and 54 blocks in over 24 minutes per contest. He played in only one minute of action against Pitt this season on Dec. 2 in a 68-60 loss at the Petersen Events Center. NC State fell in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, 72-63, to Creighton, who eventually advanced to the Elite 8. The Wolfpack ended the year 23-11 overall and 12-8 in ACC play.
Georgia Tech’s Rodney Howard, Jermontae Hill, and Cyril Martynov Enter Portal
While Georgia Tech has added Dowuona, the Yellow Jackets surely have the space on the program roster for more transfers. Guard Jermontae Hill and forwards Rodney Howard and Cyril Martynov have all entered the transfer portal, according to Verbal Commits. Georgia Tech fired head coach Josh Pastner following a 15-18 season – finishing 6-14 in the conference – and hired former Boston Celtics assistant Damon Stoudamire as its 15th coach in program history.
As a redshirt freshman, Hill scored two points in only four minutes and change played during the 2022-23 season. Martynov, 7-foot, scored only five points in 18 minutes spanning seven total games in his freshman stint with the Jackets. Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Martynov was a three-star recruit who picked the program over Missouri, Wisconsin, and Northwestern.
Rodney Howard is the most impactful departure from the team. He started 16 of 24 games played for Georgia Tech as a senior, averaging 4.5 points and 4.3 rebounds. Howard, 6-foot-11, played a season-high 33 minutes against Pitt on Jan. 14, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds, four on the offensive glass. He played at Georgia his freshman year before staying in-state and moving to Atlanta to join the Jackets. Howard has one year of eligibility remaining.
Wake Forest’s Robert McCray Commits to Jacksonville
Demon Deacons’ sophomore guard Robert McCray has transferred from the program to Jacksonville. according to 336 Edits. A former top=125 recruit from Columbia, South Carolina, McCray played 57 total minutes for Wake Forest, averaging 1.9 points while shooting 10-for-18 from the floor in a brief 14-game stint.
McCray redshirted the past season, not appearing in any games this year for head coach Steve Forbes before deciding to transfer. Wake Forest finished 19-14 (10-10 ACC) and missed out on a bid to both the NCAA Tournament and NIT.
UNC Transfer Dontrez Styles To Visit Georgetown Thursday
Dontrez Styles is continuing to weigh his options on a potential new landing spot after entering the transfer portal. The former North Carolina winger is expected to announce his decision next week and will visit Georgetown on Thursday, multiple outlets have reported. Styles had previously heard from Pitt early in his transfer process following his sophomore year at UNC.
Styles, 6-foot-6, can play both guard and forward but was not utilized frequently by Hubert Davis. The Kinston, North Carolina native scored 21 points in 88 minutes spanning 15 games, playing half the amount of games did last season. Styles helped guide North Carolina to the National Championship, playing in 30 contests, while averaging 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in a minimal role.
The former two-time all-state selection has two years of eligibility remaining. UNC missed the NCAA Tournament – on the border as a ‘last four out’ selection – after being ranked preseason No. 1 by the Associated Press, ending 20-13 overall and 11-9 in the ACC. Georgetown begins a new era under former Providence coach Ed Cooley after only winning two of 20 games in the Big East.
