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Gregory says Georgia Tech’s recruiting ‘behind the eight ball’

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New Georgia Tech coach Brian Gregory has a busy summer agenda.

He’s moving his family from Dayton to Atlanta, monitoring his players’ progress in summer school and trying to assess his team’s recruiting situation. He didn’t retain any assistants from the staff of ex-Yellow Jackets coach Paul Hewitt, meaning they haven’t seen any of the 20 local seniors who could help replenish a roster that badly needs it.

So yeah, as Ken Sugiura from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution points out, the July recruiting period is going to be hectic.

“Are we a little bit behind the eight ball [in] recruiting?” Gregory asked. “Yes, we are.”

There’s good reason to be active. The state of Georgia has plenty of 2012 talent, and only a few players have settled on schools. If Gregory can secure a 4-star guy here and a 5-star guy there, it’ll pay immediate dividends.

The local guys are noticing, too. Sharman White, the high school coach of prized frontcourt prospects Tony Parker and Brandon Morris told the Journal-Constitution that Gregory and his staff are always on the phone.

“They’re relentless in trying to make sure they restore the program back to a level of respectability within the ACC and in the nation,” White said. “That’s what I get immediately when I think of what they do.”

The downside for Georgia Tech? Other schools want these players, too. Duke, Florida, Ohio State and Georgia have been onto Parker and Morris before Gregory arrived.

It’ll take quite the summer – and fall, and winter, maybe more – to reel in those players.

You also can follow me on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.