THE FLATS – Tyzhaun Claude, a 6-8, 236-pound forward who blossomed as one of the top scorers and rebounders in the Southern Conference last season at Western Carolina, has signed a grant-in-aid to join the Georgia Tech program, head coach Damon Stoudamire announced.
A native of Goldsboro, N.C., Claude earned third-team all-Southern Conference honors last season and led the league in rebounding in helping the Catamounts to an 18-16 overall record and a 10-8 mark in conference play. A graduate transfer with one year of eligibility with the Yellow Jackets, Claude spent the first three years of his college career at Morehead State.
“Ty is the ultimate lunch-pail guy,” said Stoudamire, who became the Georgia Tech’s head coach on March 14. “His bread and butter is on the box, and he plays so hard. He brings an energy and a spirit that we’re going to need. He competes every play. He can rebound the ball, and he makes the 50-50 plays. He’s everything I want in a basketball player. I look forward to coaching him.”
Claude finished the 2022-23 season ranked second on the WCU roster with 15.4 points per game and snagged a SoCon-best 8.6 rebounds per game. His 3.2 offensive boards per contest were likewise tops in the league while ranking 30th in the NCAA. He corralled a season-high eight offensive rebounds against USC Upstate with his league-best mark just one below that against The Citadel. In 28 games played, Claude finished with double-figure scoring 27 times, including 15 consecutive games to close season, and logged a team-best 11 double-doubles. He also led the Catamounts in blocked shots, and shot 52.3 percent from the floor and 72 percent from the free throw line.
Claude made the Southern Conference all-tournament team in 2023 after averaging 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in two games. Claude logged a double-double in WCU’s semifinal loss to Furman with 15 points and 11 rebounds. In the Catamounts’ quarterfinal win against ETSU, Claude tallied 15 points and snagged five rebounds.
At Morehead State, Claude averaged 9.5 points per game as a freshman in 2019-20, then missed the 2020-21 campaign due to injury. He came back to score 31 points in nine games during the 2021-22 season, tallying a season-best 12 points with five rebounds against Kentucky Christian.
A product of Goldsboro, N.C., Claude’s strong freshman campaign in 2019-20 included starting 19 of 30 games played. He led the Eagles with 6.4 rebounds per game along with 9.4 points per game. He tallied three double-doubles including a 13-point and 11-rebound performance against Southern Conference foe Samford in his collegiate debut and a 10-point, 11-rebound effort against SEC member Missouri.
Claude wrapped up his high school career at Moravian Prep playing for head coach Jeremy Ellis. During his junior season at Goldsboro (N.C.) High School, Claude averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds. He played AAU basketball for Team Loaded NC.
Tyzhaun Claude earned third-team All-Southern Conference honors last year and led the league in rebounding. (photo courtesy of Western Carolina athletics)
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