Georgia Tech landed a familiar name Thursday, while Georgia picked up two players close to home at the start of the early signing period for men's basketball.
The Yellow Jackets signed Glen Rice Jr., a 6-foot-4 guard and son of the former Michigan star and longtime NBA player.
Rice averaged 25.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game as a junior at Walton High School in suburban Atlanta. Heading into his third year as a starter, he has scored more than 1,000 points in his prep career.
"He's very skilled, and a very good all-around player," Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. "He may be somebody I would characterize as a late bloomer. His skill level is very high in terms of dribbling and passing. If he shoots it anywhere near like his dad did, he will become a complete player. He may have the most potential of anyone in this group."
The Yellow Jackets would certainly take anything close to the senior Rice, who was a second-team All-American at Michigan and played 15 years in the NBA for Miami, Chicago, the Los Angeles Lakers, New York, Houston and the L.A. Clippers.
Georgia Tech expects to sign three more players during the early signing period, which runs through next Wednesday.
At the start of period, Georgia signed Daniel Miller, a 6-11 center from Loganville Christian Academy, and DeMario Mayfield, a 6-4 guard at Franklin County High School in Carnesville.
Miller averaged 28.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.0 blocks per game as a junior, leading Loganville to its second straight championship for the Independent Christian Schools of Georgia-Alabama.
"Daniel has a very exciting future," Georgia coach Dennis Felton said. "For a player of his size, he has tremendous hands, touch and instincts for the game. He can score with his back to the basket and also facing up to 18 feet. He also has a real knack for rebounding and blocking shots, most of which he keeps in play."
Mayfield averaged 24.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists for Franklin County last season.
"DeMario is long, athletic and versatile," Felton said. "I believe he can be equally comfortable and effective on and off the ball. His size and versatility should provide us with many options during the course of his career."
Elsewhere, Georgia State signed James Vincent, a 6-10 post player from Northside High School in Columbus. He missed most of his junior season with a knee injury, but has been cleared to play as a senior.
"Because of his injury, he might not be very well known, but with his size and athletic ability, he has tremendous potential," Panthers coach Rod Barnes said. "We're looking forward to seeing him develop now that he is healthy again."
Vincent was averaging 15 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks before the injury.
In Statesboro, Georgia Southern picked up Toarlyn Fitzpatrick, a 6-8 power forward from King High School in Tampa, Fla.
"We feel like he was a freshman that could come in and contribute right away with some presence inside," Eagles coach Jeff Price said.