Tag: Georgia basketball

Georgia freshman projected as first-round 2025 NBA draft pick

UGA basketball true freshman, former five-star recruit is projected to go early in the 2025 NBA draft

Georgia Bulldogs basketball freshman Asa Newell has been projected to be selected in the first-round of the 2025 NBA draft. Newell, a former five-star recruit, is already having a huge impact for this Georgia team.

The 6-foot-11, 220-pound freshman is a big reason why Georgia basketball is 2-0. Newell is averaging 20 points, 3.5 blocks and 7.5 rebounds per game to begin the 2024-2025 college basketball season.

Tankathon projects that Newell will be a late lottery pick in the 2025 draft. In fact, Tankathon has Newell landing with the Atlanta Hawks at pick No. 14 in their latest mock draft. Yes, it is very early in the process, but so far, so good for Newell.

Additionally, ESPN has Newell going a little bit later in the 2025 draft. ESPN projects (subscription required) that Newell will go No. 20 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which would be an excellent fit for the Georgia forward.

“His mobility, fluidity, explosiveness, body control and touch around the rim allowed him to dominate the interior while also making quite a few plays defensively,” said Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
“Newell also has the green light to shoot 3-pointers, which is very interesting at 6-foot-11,” continued Givony. NBA teams are always looking for shooting.
Georgia Bulldogs forward Asa Newell had an impressive performance against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Georgia basketball fans can watch the Bulldogs on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+ as Georgia takes on 3-0 North Florida.

Georgia basketball ranked surprisingly high in preseason top-100

Can Georgia basketball make a run to the NCAA Tournament? CBS Sports thinks the Dawgs have a shot

The Georgia Bulldogs basketball team is ranked No. 45 in CBS Sports’ most recent preseason top-100 rankings. As the No. 45 team, Georgia would be on the cusp of making the NCAA Tournament.

“The Bulldogs fully expect to be competitive and in the top half of the SEC, thanks above all to anticipated reforms with the team’s rebounding,” said Matt Norlander of CBS Sports.

Georgia basketball is coming off a 20-17 (6-12 in SEC) season where UGA finished No. 11 in the SEC. Georgia did have a promising run in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), but the Bulldogs wouldn’t have made the NIT if several teams did not elect to participate.

Georgia lost a few pieces from last season, but added a couple of key names via the transfer portal and returns several quality players.

“Mike White has two players back who will be starters in Silas Demary Jr. and Blue Cain. Demary really might be the most undervalued player in the SEC,” continued Norlander. Georgia’s most notable signee is five-star forward Asa Newell.

“He’ll (Newell) need to be a top-10 freshman in the country to validate my UGA ranking, and I think he’s gonna pull it off,” said Norlander. “Look for Demary to step up and be one of the best defenders in the SEC – with backup De’Shayne Montgomery not that far behind. Tyrin Lawrence (via Vandy) and RJ Godfrey (via Clemson) should round out the starting five.”

Georgia opens the 2024-2025 college basketball season on Monday, Nov. 4 against Tennessee Tech at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Former Georgia Bulldog shines in 2024 NBA season debut

Anthony Edwards plays well in Timberwolves’ season opener

Former Georgia Bulldog Anthony Edwards has been the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise for a few years, and he proved it in the second game of the NBA season. He scored 27 points, which led the team, along with six rebounds and three assists, making 10 of his 25 attempts. Unfortunately, his prowess couldn’t lift the Timberwolves over the Lakers, losing 110-103.

Edwards had this to say in the press conference after the game.

“I feel like we got really good shots. I feel like we just missed a lot of shots, me included.”

On getting open looks:

“I feel like I got a lot of open looks tonight. Like I said, we got great looks. If we make those shots we win the game. It’s that simple. If I make the open shots I missed I’ll win the game.”

On the first half turnovers:

“We made some lazy passes. We weren’t ready to play yet. We came too relaxed,” said Edwards.

Here is the link to the full post-game interview:

Edwards is one of three Georgia Bulldogs in the NBA along with Orlando Magic guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton.

Georgia basketball adds 7-foot-1 center to 2025 class

Four-star center recruit has committed to UGA basketball

Tuesday afternoon, 7-foot-1 center recruit Jackson McVey committed to head coach Mike White and Georgia basketball. McVey is playing at the Overtime Elite in Atlanta, Georgia.

McVey’s addition to the class of 2025 shows that Mike White looking to add size for the future for this program. McVey’s addition marks the second year in a row where an Overtime Elite player has committed to play for the Bulldogs with Somto Cyril signing in last year’s 2024 class.

McVey went on a visit to Athens this September and was constantly in communication since receiving an offer this summer from Mike White.

The lengthy center is the No. 25 player at his position, per ESPN. McVey is ranked as a four-star recruit.

Georgia’s 2025 class now includes four-star Jacob Wilkins, Kareem Stagg, and now Jackson McVey with all of them being 6-foot-8 and up. The future for the wings and bigs at UGA is going to be something to watch. Georgia’s class is now ranked No. 7 in the country.

Mike White and company beat out Georgia Tech, Florida, and Florida State for the in-state recruit. This is great momentum going into the upcoming high school and college basketball season starting in a few weeks.

Four-star center commits to the Georgia Bulldogs

Four-star center prospect Kareem Stagg has committed to UGA

Four-star center Kareem Stagg has committed to the Georgia Bulldogs basketball program. Stagg is a member of the class of 2025.

The 6-foot-8, 220-pound center plays high school basketball for IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Stagg is ranked as the No. 72 recruit in the country. The IMG Academy standout is the No. 8 center in the nation and the No. 15 prospect in Florida, per 247Sports.

Stagg committed to Georgia over Michigan, Oklahoma State and Houston. Head coach Mike White and Georgia have the No. 13 basketball recruiting class in the 2025 cycle.

Georgia has a pair of 2025 commitments in Stagg and four-star shooting forward Jacob Wilkins, who is the son of Dominique Wilkins. Stagg brings size, athleticism and skill to Georgia’s recruiting class.

The four-star announced his commitment to UGA basketball via social media.

Georgia basketball is trending upwards entering the 2024-2025 season.

Former Georgia guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signs massive contract

Former Georgia Bulldogs basketball star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be paid over $20 million per year at his new NBA home

Former Georgia Bulldogs basketball star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is joining the Orlando Magic on a three-year, $66 million contract. Caldwell-Pope played for the Denver Nuggets during the 2023-2024 NBA season. The Nuggets fell to Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs.

Caldwell-Pope brings championship experience to the Magic. He has won the NBA Finals twice in his career. The former Georgia star won one title with the Denver Nuggets and one with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Orlando has a young core and is looking to advance further in the NBA postseason after falling in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Last season, Caldwell-Pope averaged 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game for the Denver Nuggets. Caldwell-Pope connected on 40.6% of his three-point attempts. He provides much-needed outside shooting for the Magic.

Former Georgia star Nic Claxton signed a four-year, $100 million contract to return to the Brooklyn Nets.

Former Georgia basketball forward signs 4-year, $100 million contract

Former Georgia basketball standout signs huge contract worth more than what all eight Georgia rookies in the NFL will earn combined

Former Georgia Bulldogs center Nic Claxton has signed a four-year, $100 million contract to return to the Brooklyn Nets. Claxton was the No. 31 pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

Claxton’s contract is worth more than the combined amounts of all eight of Georgia’s 2024 NFL draft picks.

The former Georgia standout is known for his ability to switch on defense. Claxton is among the NBA’s top shot blockers and will anchor Brooklyn’s core alongside Cameron Johnson after the Nets recently traded star Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks.

The 6-foot-11, 215-pound center averaged 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 2023-2024 with the Nets. Claxton has made nearly two-thirds (66.1%) of his shots from the field throughout his five year NBA career. Claxton has started in 147 games for Brooklyn over the past two seasons and plays just under 30 minutes per game.

Claxton, 25, will earn the second-most money of any player on the Nets behind Ben Simmons, who is set to make over $40 million in 2024-2025.

Former Georgia guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has also signed a large contract in NBA free agency. Caldwell-Pope, who is a two-time NBA champion, is signing with the Orlando Magic.

Four-star basketball recruit commits to Georgia, reclassifies

The Georgia Bulldogs basketball program add commitment from Serbian point guard, No. 88 recruit

Head coach Mike White and the Georgia Bulldogs basketball program got more good news on Friday afternoon. Four-star guard Savo Drezgic announced his commitment to UGA as well as his reclassification from the class of 2025 to this year’s class, giving the Bulldogs yet another top recruit to add to a 2024 roster that has received a major boost from both recruiting and the transfer portal already this offseason.

Drezgic is listed at 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, and has represented his native country of Serbia professionally for the Partizan basketball team in Belgrade in 2023 before joining DME Academy in Daytona Beach. He is ranked as the 88th best player nationally by 247Sports and the 14th best point guard.

With the addition of Drezgic, Georgia has four recruits set to join in the class of 2024, as he joins Asa Newell, Somto Cyril, and Jordyn Kee. The Bulldogs currently hold the 10th ranked class in the nation according to 247Sports and have also added five players out of the transfer portal.

Former Georgia basketball standout tries out for the Lakers

Former Georgia basketball guard tries out with the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the 2024 NBA draft

Former Georgia Bulldogs basketball guard Noah Thomasson has tried out for the Los Angles Lakers. Thomasson, who transferred to Georgia from Niagara, is hoping to be selected in the 2024 NBA draft.

Thomasson averaged 13.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game during the 2023-2024 college basketball season. Thomasson shot 40.9% from the field and 34.5% from three-point range this past season.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound guard projects as a shooting guard at the next level. Thomasson faces an uphill battle to make an NBA roster. He is not ranked on CBS Sports’ top-67 NBA draft prospects and did not have the type of production that most NBA teams are looking for. Thomasson is a good shooter, which is critical for proper spacing in the NBA.

Former Georgia Bulldogs Anthony Edwards, Nic Claxton and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are the only three Bulldogs in the NBA right now.

Somto Cyril withdraws name from NBA draft, will play for Georgia in 2024

Georgia center Somto Cyril withdraws from the NBA draft

After landing their third commitment of this cycle from three-star guard Jordyn Kee on Wednesday, the Georgia Bulldogs basketball team got more good news early Thursday morning. Somto Cyril, a four-star signee at the center position for the Bulldogs, officially withdrew his name from the 2024 NBA draft, affirming his commitment to play for Georgia later this year, per CBS’ Jon Rothstein.

Cyril is listed at 6-foot-10, 240 pounds, and is considered by numerous recruiting outlets to be a top 10 center in the class of 2024. He played last season in the Overtime Elite League, which allowed him to test the NBA draft waters while also signing with the Bulldogs.

Cyril is originally from Nigeria, arriving in the United States in 2021. He played a year of high school basketball at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee before joining Overtime Elite. He had previously signed with Kentucky before flipping to Georgia in April  following John Calipari’s departure to Arkansas.

Cyril joins the aforementioned Kee and five-star forward Asa Newell in a very talented Georgia recruiting class set to join the team this year, in addition to the five transfer players the Bulldogs have brought in this offseason. Cyril’s rim protection, dunking ability, and overall size and frame will be a major help for Mike White’s team as they look to take a major step forward in the SEC following a 20-17 record a year ago.