THE FLATS – Tafara Gapare, a 6-9 forward who was a four-star prep prospect out of high school before playing his freshman season at Massachusetts, has signed a grant-in-aid to join the Georgia Tech program, head coach Damon Stoudamire announced.

A native of Wellington, New Zealand, Gapare (pronounced “tuh-FAR-uh guh-PAR-ee”) played limited minutes as a freshman as UMass after enrolling in school late due to visa issues, but solidified his spot in the Minutemen rotation, playing in every game from Dec. 2 on. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining with the Yellow Jackets.

“Tafara is about as talented as they come,” said Stoudamire. “He’s one of the most talented players that I’ve seen. Now it’s a matter of turning talent into production. He has the ability, and it’s a matter of us being able to get everything out of him, both from a basketball perspective and as a young man. His ability to shoot the ball, the ability to get rebounds and start the break, pass the ball … you don’t really see guys like him that often. He has a world of potential.”

As a freshman at UMass, Gapare played sparingly until a key Dec. 2 win over Harvard, when he tallied eight points and three rebounds. He scored 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the Minutemen’s next game against Albany and later posted double-figure efforts against Hofstra (13 points on Dec. 11) and Rhode Island (11 points on Feb. 18). Altogether. He played in 30 games, 12.4 minutes per game, and averaged 3.4 points and 2.1 rebounds. Despite his limited minutes, he led UMass with 20 blocked shots.

Gapare enrolled at UMass after reclassifying from the class of 2023 to 2022. He spent the 2021-22 year at South Kent School in Connecticut, earning a No. 1 ranking in the state and No. 10 among power forwards by 247Sports. He was tabbed No. 81 nationally and No. 18 among power forwards by Rivals.

The dwags need to put this in their pipe and smoke it.

Greensboro, N.C. – Georgia Tech’s Connor Howe, Christo Lamprecht and Ross Steelman have been named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Golf Team, announced Thursday by the conference office.

The Tech trio are among fifteen student-athletes who were honored on the all-conference team, with Lamprecht and Howe earning spots for the second straight year. Steelman made the team for the first time, although it is his second career all-conference honor, having made the All-Southeastern Conference team while at Missouri.

North Carolina’s David Ford was named the ACC Player of the Year, while Ben James of Virginia was named the ACC Freshman of the Year. Andrew DiBitetto of North Carolina was voted ACC Coach of the Year.

The All-ACC Team, Player, and Freshman of the Year were determined by a combination of the Golfstat and Golfweek/Sagarin rankings in conjunction with a vote of the league’s 12 head coaches, while Coach of the Year was selected by a vote of the coaches.

Lamprecht (ranked No. 7 in Golfstat and No. 6 in the Golfweek/Sagarin ratings), Steelman (No. 17 Golfstat, No. 9 Sagarin) and Howe (No. 50 Golfstat, No. 55 Sagarin), each of whom holds the highest rankings of their careers, made the team automatically via their average national ranking.

Lamprecht, a junior from George, South Africa, has finished in the top-10 of seven tournaments, winning the Inverness Intercollegiate in the fall and most recently tying for ninth place in ACC Championship stroke play and winning both of his matches in the match play championship. Steelman, a senior from Columbia, Mo., has six top-10 finishes in seven tournaments and won the deciding points for the Jackets in each of their ACC championship matches. Howe, fifth-year senior from Ogden, Utah, tied for third in the ACC Championship stroke play and has three top-10 finishes this spring. All three have stroke averages under 71.

The trio has been the core of a Yellow Jackets’ team that won the 2023 ACC Championship, defeating Wake Forest in the championship match and downing Duke in the semifinals after winning the 54-hole stroke-play portion of the championship by 16 shots. Tech has finished as a runner-up in five other tournaments, including three this spring. The trio has combined for 14 individual top-10 finishes.

This is the 27th time since 1985 that Tech has had multiple players make the All-ACC team, and the 14th time that three or more Yellow Jackets have made the team. The selections bring to 41 the number of different Tech golfers who have made the All-ACC team at least once during their careers. Tech’s 80 all-time All-ACC selections trail only Clemson (88) and Wake Forest (87), who are charter members of the conference.



2023 ALL-ACC MEN’S GOLF TEAM

Cole Anderson, Florida State

Jack Bigham, Florida State

Brett Roberts, Florida State

Frederik Kjettrup, Florida State

Connor Howe, Georgia Tech

Christo Lamprecht, Georgia Tech

Ross Steelman, Georgia Tech

Max Kennedy, Louisville

Jiri Zuska, Louisville

Ryan Burnett, North Carolina

David Ford, North Carolina

Austin Greaser, North Carolina

Dylan Menante, North Carolina

Ben James, Virginia

Michael Brennan, Wake Forest (ACC champion)



ACC Player of the Year – David Ford, North Carolina

ACC Freshman of the Year – Ben James, Virginia

ACC Coach of the Year – Andrew DiBitetto, North Carolina

Averaged 15 PPG and almost 9 RPG last season.
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Login to view embedded media Login to view embedded media Blaylock is a member of the Transfer250.

Was a little bored this afternoon so I was reviewing the 2023 ESPN Top 300 recruits for football. We have always said that all we would have to do is protect our borders and all the talent we need is in the Peach state. While surprised that 27 of the Top 300 were from Georgia I was even more surprised when I saw the breakdown by position:

QB - 1
RB - 2
WR - 1
ATH/WR - 2
TE - 2
T - 4
G - 1

DE - 2
DT - 2
OLB - 2
ILB - 3
CB - 3
S - 2

An entire recruiting class, every position represented except C, K (we could always go for 2) and P (we wouldn't need to punt)

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Georgia Tech softball (26-26, 7-17 ACC) overpowered host and No. 7 seed Notre Dame (29-17-1, 11-12-1 ACC) for an 8-1 victory in the first round of the 2023 ACC Softball Championship on Wednesday at Melissa Cook Stadium. Keeping the Fighting Irish at bay at the plate, the Yellow Jackets took the lead in the opening frame and steadily pulled away with seven runs over the first four innings.
Senior hurler Blake Neleman (11-10) controlled the game from the circle, holding Notre Dame to just one run on five hits while picking up four strikeouts in her eighth complete game of the season.
Three Yellow Jackets came away with multi-hit days as senior catcher Emma Kauf highlighted the Jacket bats, going 2-for-5 with her team-leading 13th double of the season and 49th of her career. Sophomore outfielder Ella Edgmon turned in a 2-for-4 day from the leadoff spot, and sophomore designated player Emma Minghini was the most efficient bat for the White and Gold going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

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Where it really matters, GT kicking ass yet again!

Princeton Review Rates GT #1

OFFICIAL VISIT LINK

OFFENSE:

Quarterback (1/2):
Haynes King (Texas A&M Transfer Portal- Longview, TX) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/18/22, SIGNED

Tailback (2/3):
Trevion Cooley (Louisville Transfer Portal- Knightdale, NC) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/19/22, SIGNED
Evan Dickens (IMG Academy- Bradenton, FL) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/19/22, SIGNED

Receivers (5/5):
Dominick Blaylock (UGA- Transfer Portal- Marietta, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 5/9/23
Abdul Janneh (Duquesne- Transfer Portal- New Oxford, PA) ***GT COMMIT*** 1/6/23
Chase Lane (Texas A&M- Transfer Portal) ***GT COMMIT *** 12/12/22, SIGNED
Christian Leary (Alabama Transfer Portal- Orlando, FL) ***GT COMMIT*** 1/8/23
Zion Taylor (Norcross- Norcross, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 6/5/22, SIGNED
Eric Singleton Jr. (Alexander- Douglasville, GA) ***GT COMMIT 12/21/22 SIGNED

Tight End (3/3):
Jackson Long (USF- Transfer Portal- Hendersonville, TN) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/11/22, SIGNED
Brett Seither (UGA- Transfer Portal- Clearwater, FL) ***GT COMMIT***1/16/23

Offensive Linemen (7/7):
Jordan Brown (Charlotte- Transfer Portal- Matthews, NC) ***GT COMMIT*** 1/6/22
Elias Cloy (Alpharetta, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 6/12/22, SIGNED
Gabriel Fortson (North Cobb Christian- Acworth, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 10/21/22, SIGNED
Benjamin Galloway (Hillgrove- Powder Springs, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 8/25/22, SIGNED
Ethan Mackenny (Lassiter- Marietta, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 6/5/22, SIGNED
Connor Scaglione (Princeton- Transfer Portal- Demarest, NJ) ***GT COMMIT*** 4/14/23
Patrick Screws (Eufaula, AL) ***GT COMMIT*** 6/18/22, SIGNED

DEFENSE

Defensive Ends (4/4)
Eddie Kelly (USF- Transfer Portal- Winter Garden, FL) ***GT COMMIT*** 5/10/23
Ezra Odinjor (Allatoona- Kennesaw, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/19/22, SIGNED
Malcolm Pugh (Leroy, AL) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/21/22, SIGNED
Etinosa Reuben (Clemson Transfer Portal- Kansas City, MO) ***GT COMMIT*** 1/10/23

Defensive Tackle (1/2):
Bryston Dixon (Leroy, AL) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/21/22, SIGNED
Shymeik Jones (Camden, SC) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/18/22, SIGNED

Linebackers (6/6):
Nacari Ashley (Marietta, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/18/22, SIGNED
Jacob Cruz (North Cobb Christian- Acworth, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 8/5/22, SIGNED
Ashton Heflin (Newnan, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 6/12/22, SIGNED
Paul Moala (Idaho/Notre Dame- Transfer Portal- Mishawaka, IN) ***GT COMMIT*** 5/16/23
Braelen Oliver (Minnesota- Transfer Portal- Douglasville, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/18/22, SIGNED
Andre White Jr. (Texas A&M- Transfer Portal- Harrisburg, PA) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/19/22, SIGNED

Cornerbacks (2/2):
Omar Daniels (Kansas State- Transfer Portal- Moultrie, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 5/10/23
Steven Jones (Gadsden City, AL) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/19/22, SIGNED

Safety (3/3):
Justin Brown (Mississippi State- Transfer Portal- Murfreesboro, TN) ***GT COMMIT*** 5/23/23
Nico Dowdell (Loganville, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/3/22
Taye Seymore (South Atlanta- Atlanta, GA) ***GT COMMIT*** 12/21/22

Login to view embedded media Login to view embedded media Login to view embedded media Will be updating his profile shortly. OC Buster Faulkner was at the school yesterday and clearly liked what he saw.

FRI: GT RHP Luke Schmolke (Fr., 4-3, 8.20 ERA) vs. PITT RHP Jack Sokol (Jr., 5-2, 6.66 ERA)

SAT: GT RHP Aeden Finateri (So., 2-1, 4.06 ERA) vs. PITT RHP Logan Evans (Jr., 3-2, 6.43 ERA)

SUN: GT RHP Jackson Finley (R-So., 2-4, 5.18 ERA) vs. PITT RHP Kyle Mosley (Jr., 1-5, 6.59 ERA)

Another Buttsniffer arrested.

The basketball schedule usually isn’t out until late summer, but:

- Do we know any games yet that are locked in other than the Diamond Head Classic? Any back end of current home-and-home that are still outstanding?

KQ- So there are like 4 games that are unknown right now. You have the Diamond Head, you have at UGA, you have an SEC/ACC Challenge game probably at home against either SC, Ole Miss, or LSU.

- Any details yet about the SEC/ACC challenge that is starting up to replace the Big 10 one that ended?

KQ- I do not know if it will be in January like the SEC/Big-12 one was or will it be in the more traditional December slot where the ACC/Big Ten Challenge always was.

- How do you think Damon will schedule out of conference? Try to pile up a lot of ’buy game’ wins early or try to get the program into some bigger neutral/road games to get on TV and into the national conversation?

KQ- I have no clue whatsoever what his approach will be for that yet. I have to build that relationship up before I can tell you what his philosophy will be. I've only talked to him a handful of times.

Now that the football roster has been purged can we get a post spring War Room?

KQ- I don't think the purging is complete yet, but yeah I can try to work on something for Friday.

Can’t remember if this has been asked before:

If you had to guess, what are going to be the biggest surprises to fans this FB season? Good/bad.
Could be about the players/coaches/gameday atmosphere/etc. Or all 3. Lol
Based on what you’ve seen/heard so far.

KQ- I think it is impossible to know what the attendance will be like or crowds or anything relating to fans at this point. I think it will be a very traditional GT home game atmosphere at home as Key is very traditional and will lean into the things that GOL, Chan and PJ all embraced with that as you saw once he took over the program. There won't be a lot of nonsense.

I’m a stud 4-star Rivals football player. In a given week I may talk to 15-20 coaches (probably another 30-40 via my coach) texting, calling, or social media. Then I drop a top 10…then a top 5…then go on OVs to 4 of them and take a 5th OV somewhere random…then I schedule a hat show on ESD…then I sign.

How does the communication and messaging with the coaches recruiting me change for me during each step of this process?

KQ- paging @Russell Johnson

One of these days on JOLTV can we get you and whiskey chef doing a bourbon and food show and have him tell some old war stories?

KQ- Would love to do that. We both have complicated schedules so we barely see each other right now, but I'll try to hook that up this summer. I think that could be interesting.

Also when is the next JOL lunch/cocktail hour?

KQ- I'm trying to work up something super cool that I've been working on for a few weeks that would be a really interesting event. Just have to pull it together. It would be over the summer.

Starting a new thread since the 2022 season is done and we are heading into draft/offseason stuff leading into 2023.

Today is notable because today by 4 we will know what kind of tag the Ravens are going to use on Lamar. I still don't think the Falcons would go after him if the Ravens use the non-exclusive tag, but I have been wrong many times before.

THE FLATS – Junior right fielder Stephen Reid (Garwood, N.J./Governor Livingston) was lauded both nationally and by the Atlantic Coast Conference for performance last week, earning ACC and Collegiate Baseball’s National Player of the Week honors, it was announced Monday.



In a crucial ACC series against Pitt, Reid was red-hot at the plate, mashing four home runs, including a program-record-tying three on Sunday in the 15-3 series-clinching win. Overall, he hit .643 for the weekend, recording nine hits and a double for 10 RBI, scoring seven times himself.



He compiled a gaudy 1.571 slugging percentage and reached base at a .643 clip, striking out just one time in 14 at-bats over the three-game series. The Garwood, N.J., native also added a highlight worthy diving catch in right field to help keep the Panthers off the scoreboard.



Reid and the Yellow Jackets will now head out on the road for five straight games, beginning on Wednesday, May 10 against Kennesaw State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

I am glad to see we are restarting with GT basketball branding
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That's a big kid. 6-7/220 (needs a few more biscuits?)


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If Wilson is there, that’s my pick. If not, I try to trade down to the 10-14 range, get another second rounder (in this draft or future) and take Bijan going all in on surrounding Ridder with talent and continuing or ground based game. Got talked into believing in Robinson to Atl the last few weeks.

Go Hawks

So just looking at some early win totals I like. Curious if anyone else has some they are jumping on?

GT 4.5 Over (Obviously)
Clemson 9.5 Over
Pitt 6.5 Under
USC 9.5 Over
Vanderbilt 3.5 Over

Thoughts?