Jose Alvarado has signed up to be a cornerstone of Georgia Tech’s rebuild.
The point guard from New York announced his commitment Thursday to play for new Tech coach Josh Pastner, selecting the Yellow Jackets over Rutgers and Seton Hall.
“I love it down there,” Alvarado said Thursday afternoon. “When I went down there, I felt like it was a good fit for me. I just liked it down there a lot.”
Alvarado, a three-star point guard from Christ the King High in Brooklyn, is ranked the No. 9 player in the state of New York and the No. 32 point guard in the country by ESPN. Described as tough and highly competitive, he was the player of the year in the New York Catholic League as a junior.
“There are kids that win you games and kids that lose you games, and Jose just wins you games,” Andy Borman, Alvarado’s AAU coach, said in August. “He just makes plays. He’s as tough and competitive a kid as I’ve ever coached, and I’ve coached some pretty darn good players.”
Borman, a former walk-on at Duke, had little doubt about Alvarado’s capacity to compete in the ACC.
“I’ve coached over 85 Division I players that have played in every conference – ACC, Pac-12, SEC, Big East,” he said. “Jose can play in any conference and help you win games, even in the ACC, and we all know the ACC is a monster.”
Alvarado can sign in the early signing period in November. It’s the hope of Tech coaches that Alvarado’s commitment might build some momentum and help convince other prospects to join Pastner’s rebuild. Alvarado’s commitment leaves five scholarships available going into 2017-18. Tech is pursuing a number of seniors, including Greenforest-McCalep Christian Academy center Ikechukwu Obiagu, Pace Academy forward Wendell Carter and Pebblebrook High guard Collin Sexton.
Alvarado revives Tech’s dormant New York pipeline that coaching great Bobby Cremins once pumped to bring the likes of Kenny Anderson and Stephon Marbury to Atlanta.
“That’s a big thing, too, two great point guards,” Alvarado said. “They said they’re two of the best point guards to come out of New York. I’m just trying to continue the legacy.”
Reached at a family dinner, Alvarado was clearly elated about his decision.
“I hope Atlanta’s glad to have me,” he said.
