April 12, 2012

Gwinnett Daily Post story  |  Scout.com story

ATLANTA - Corey Heyward, a 2011 all-state guard from Duluth, Ga., who spent the 2011-12 academic year at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, has signed a letter-of-intent to play basketball at Georgia Tech.

The 6-1, 195-pound Heyward was named first-team all-state in class AAAAA by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and also was named Region 7 Player of the Year, following a 2010-11 season in which he averaged 16.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game for Peachtree Ridge High School. The Lions finished the season as regional runners-up with a season record of 21-9.

The son of former NFL and University of Pittsburgh running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward signed with Morehead (Ky.) State out of high school but elected instead to attend Hargrave Military High School in Chatham, Va., last year. At Hargrave, Heyward averaged 11 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, helping the Tigers to a 38-1 record and the championship game of the national prep school championship.

"We're very excited to have Corey join the Yellow Jacket family," said head coach Brian Gregory. "Simply put, Corey is a winner, and we need to continue to add that winning attitude into our program. Coming from highly successful programs at Peachtree Ridge and Hargrave Military Academy, Corey brings the character, toughness and competitiveness that we are looking for into our program."

Heyward becomes the fourth member of the Yellow Jackets' 2012 signing class, all of whom attended high school in the Atlanta area. In the fall recruiting period, Tech signed 6-3 guard Chris Bolden from North Gwinnett High School, 6-8 forward Robert Carter from Shiloh High School and 6-5 forward Marcus Hunt from North Clayton High School. Prior to Heyward's signing, this class was ranked as high as 14th in the nation.

Tech also has an incoming transfer, 6-4 guard Stacey Poole from Jacksonville, Fla., by way of Kentucky. Poole will be eligible to play for the Jackets following the 2012 fall semester.