Over the weekend, Georgia Tech added a point guard in USF transfer Josh Heath. Heath is the son of former USF coach Stan Heath. Stan Heath once coached with Brian Gregory at Michigan State, so you would have to think the familiarity was beneficial for the Yellow Jackets.
It's unclear how Heath's presence will effect Georgia Tech's odds on MyTopSportsbooks.com, but it does provide the Yellow Jackets some depth at the point guard position. The question on when Heath will be eligible depends on how the NCAA compares his case to that of Trey Zeigler. Will the precedent be enough to allow a waiver to play immediately?
In theory Heath would have to sit out the 2014-15 season per NCAA transfer rules, but the case of former Pitt guard Trey Zeigler raises the question of whether or not Georgia Tech should consider applying for a waiver on Heath’s behalf. Zeigler transferred to Pitt in 2012 following the firing of his father at Central Michigan, receiving a waiver to play immediately in a decision that surprised many.
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Heath and Gregory were assistants together at Michigan State on Tom Izzo’s staff. They helped the Spartans win the 2000 national championship. It goes without saying that Heath isn’t going to call Gregory a shiftless slouch after his son has elected to play for him. But the fact that Heath knows Gregory as well as he does and approved of his son’s choice is telling. This past season didn’t go as anyone wanted, and there is a desire to see results, but Heath would seem to be placing a very considerable bet on Gregory and Tech’s future.
Heath is a pass-first point guard who averaged just 2.6 points per game and 3.3 assists per game during his freshman season. If Heath is eligible immediately, he should compete for the point guard position with Travis Jorgenson and Corey Heward. Travis Jorgenson missed most of the 2013-14 season with an ACL tear. Corey Heyward played quite a bit for the Yellow Jackets this season, but was one of the least productive players in the ACC this season.
AJC.com has more about the impact of Heath at Georgia Tech.
