Yellowjackets’ legend Dennis Scott is one of the greatest to ever play at Georgia Tech, and yesterday the school revealed it would be honoring him by retiring his jersey.
And the best part was that it was a complete surprise and done in person while Scott was on air on NBATV.
Presenting him with the news was Tech head basketball coach Damon Stoudamire and director of athletics Jason Batt, who completely shocked Scott and left him almost speechless.
“Today’s a special day,” said Stoudamire. “And we’re to let you know that as one of the DMV’s finest, Flint Hill’s finest, and one of the best to ever do it at Tech, we’re going to put your name in the rafters.”
Scott was at a loss for words.
“I don’t know what to say,” stammered an emotional Scott. “I was thinking about Luka and here I am thinking about number 4.”
It was a fitting honor for all that Scott accomplished at the school.
Over his three-year tenure with the Yellow Jackets, Scott averaged 21.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 2.9 apg while shooting over 45%.
In his freshman year, he was named ACC Rookie of the Year after averaging 15.5, 5.0 and 3.6.
In his junior year in 1990, he was the ACC and Sporting News National Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and was named a first-team All-American by six organizations. Scott is also, according to the release, “one of five Georgia Tech players ever to be named a first-team All-American by an NCAA-recognized organization, named in 1990 by Basketball Times, The Sporting News, the Wooden Award, the United States Basketball Writers of America, the Naismith Award and The National.” Three other organizations awarded him second-team honors and he was a finalist for the Naismith and Wooden Awards in his final year with the team.
Scott was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the fourth overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft and played in the league for 10 years.
But his time at Georgia Tech was where he cemented his legacy in the game.
Everyone remembers his legendary pairing with Brian Oliver and Kenny Anderson to form Lethal Weapon 3 in the 1989-90 season. That year they won the team’s second-ever ACC title, won 28 games and made it to the Final Four before falling to Larry Johnson and UNLV.
“Dennis’ basketball accomplishments are off the chart,” said his former coach, Bobby Cremins. “He has made Atlanta his home for over 20 years in his post playing career. For two years Dennis has been taking classes on campus, and with his mom Elizabeth, wife Rachael and his children proudly watching, he graduated this past December 16th in the arena where he played. I know Dennis very well, and I couldn’t be prouder of who he is and how he represents Georgia Tech.”
In December, Scott graduated from Tech with his Executive MBA, 33 years after he left the school for the NBA. That made him eligible for the honor the program bestowed on him.
More importantly, it fulfills the wish of his mother, Elizabeth “Libby” Scott.
“She asked me if she was going to be alive to see my jersey retired,” said Scott in an interview before graduation. “I said, ‘Mom, that’s water under the bridge. I’m 55 years old now, I’ve got a TV career and I like being a dad.’ I had just gotten over it, but I think when your Mom asks for something, it still resonates with you.”
After Thursday night’s surprise on live TV, both Scott and his mother can consider his college experience a dream fulfilled.
The ceremony will take place this season during a home game.
Congrats Dennis!
