Georgia Tech forward Sylvester Ogbonda has decided to leave the school as a grad transfer. Ogbonda, who has a season of eligibility remaining but took part in senior-night festivities before the Yellow Jackets’ last home game March 3, said at the time that he was deciding between pursuing professional basketball or seeking an opportunity as a grad transfer.
"After much prayers and thoughts, I have decided to forgo my last year after I graduate in May from the prestigious institute to pursue my master's and play as a grad transfer elsewhere," Ogbonda wrote in a post on his Twitter account.
Ogbonda will graduate this May with a degree in business administration. Ogbonda, from Nigeria, redshirted his first year on campus. Over three seasons, he played in 42 games for a total of 208 minutes, scoring 61 points with 48 rebounds. As a freshman and sophomore, his playing opportunities to play in the post were limited behind Ben Lammers and Abdoulaye Gueye. This season, he was a candidate for playing time behind Gueye with Lammers graduated.
In this year’s season opener, he played 23 minutes with seven points, nine rebounds and four assists, all career highs against Division I competition. However, transfer James Banks’ waiver for immediate eligibility was granted before the second game (against Tennessee), bumping Ogbonda down a peg. He played 44 minutes the rest of the season.
“He’s been a great team guy, a great team player,” coach Josh Pastner said March 1. “I know the minutes haven’t worked out for him that he’s wanted, but he’s always brought it every day in practice.”
Tech has two open scholarships for the 2019-20 academic year.
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