Tag: georgia basketball news

Photos, summary: 2023-2024 SEC basketball media days

UGA men’s and women’s basketball faces a tough challenge in the SEC

SEC basketball season is about to return. Georgia men’s basketball opens the season on Nov. 6 against Oregon.

The media has picked the Georgia Bulldogs to finish No. 12 in the SEC. No players on the men’s Georgia basketball made the preseason All-SEC team.

Second-year head coach Mike White helped improve the Georgia basketball roster ahead of the 2023-2024 season. However, Georgia will play in a very competitive SEC. Georgia finished No. 11 in the SEC last year. The Bulldogs went 16-16 overall including 6-12 in SEC play.

The media picked Tennessee basketball to win the SEC. Texas A&M guard Wade Taylor IV was named as the SEC’s preseason Player of the Year.

On the women’s side, Georgia made the 2023 NCAA Tournament and is looking to return. The Lady Dawgs are projected to finish No. 7 in the SEC.

The media picked the defending national champion LSU Tigers to win the SEC in 2023-2024. South Carolina, who went 36-1 last year, is projected to finish second in the conference. LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese has been named as the conference’s preseason Player of the Year.

Let’s take a look at some for top photos from SEC basketball media days.

Georgia basketball’s Kario Oquendo makes NBA draft decision

Georgia basketball star Kario Oquendo has entered the transfer portal and NBA draft

Georgia basketball standout Kario Oquendo has declared for the 2023 NBA draft. Oquendo is also entering his name into the NCAA transfer portal. Oquendo is still able withdraw from the draft and return to college.

Oquendo was the team’s leading scorer in 2021-2022 (15.2 points per game). He entered the transfer portal last offseason, but ultimately elected to return to Athens.

Kario Oquendo averaged 12.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in 2022-2023. Oquendo connected on just 26.7% of his three-point attempts.

The junior guard transferred to Georgia from Florida SouthWestern where he was named first-team All-Southern Conference in 2020. One of Kario Oquendo’s former Florida SouthWestern teammates, Terry Roberts, followed him to Georgia. Roberts also elected to enter the NBA draft.

Georgia Bulldogs guard Kario Oquendo joins a bunch of college basketball players in the transfer portal. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Oquendo’s decision to return to Athens helped Georgia have a better season in 2022-2023. Georgia improved from six wins to 16 wins in the first season under head coach Mike White.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound guard has played in 60 games over the last two seasons for Georgia basketball.

Oquendo announced his plans for the NBA draft and his intention to enter the transfer portal via Twitter:

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Syracuse C Frank Anselem transfers to Georgia basketball

Former three-star center recruit Frank Anselem has transferred to Georgia.

Former three-star center recruit Frank Anselem has transferred to Georgia. Anselem played two college basketball seasons with Syracuse.

The 6-foot-10-inch, 220-pound big man was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Anselem appeared in 32 games during last season with Syracuse.

Anselem, a Georgia native, attended Prolific Prep in Napa, California. He additionally played with Westlake and Lincoln Academy in Georgia during his high school career.

Former Syracuse Orange center Frank Anselem gives Mike White and Georgia some much needed size. Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Frank Anselem averaged 14.2 minutes per game last season for the Orange. He averaged 2.6 points and 3.8 points per game in 2021-2022. Anselem had an impressive game against Florida State in the ACC Tournament and will look for more playing time in Athens.

Anselem announced his commitment to Georgia via Twitter. He committed to the Georgia Bulldogs over Georgetown.

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UGA basketball’s Kario Oquendo withdraws from transfer portal

Georgia basketball star Kario Oquendo, the team’s leading scorer last season, has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal

Georgia basketball star Kario Oquendo, the team’s leading scorer in 2021-2022 (15.2 ppg), has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal. Oquendo’s pending return is huge for first-year head coach Mike White, who is trying to fill out the Bulldogs’ roster.

The sophomore guard transferred to Georgia from Florida SouthWestern where he was named first-team All-Southern Conference in 2020. Oquendo shot 40.3% on three pointers during the 2020-2021 season with Florida SouthWestern, so he could outperform his 27.2% three-point shooting in 2021-2022.

Oquendo played well under Tom Crean, but that didn’t translate into wins as Georgia finished last in the SEC and the Bulldogs finished 6-26. His return gives the Dawgs something to build with. Oquendo started 31 games for Georgia last year.

Georgia Bulldogs guard Kario Oquendo was a bright spot for the Dawgs last season. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia’s roster will look very different in 2022-2023, but a few pieces appear to be in place. Jailyn Ingram is looking to have an extra season of eligibility from the NCAA after suffering a season-ending injury early last season.  Forward Jabri Abdur-Rahim, who averaged 18.9 minutes per game, and forward Braelin Bridges, who started all 32 games last season, are both returning.

Mike White has already added Longwood transfer Justin Hill and is looking to add more talent.

Numerous Georgia Bulldogs remain in the transfer portal: Josh Taylor, Tyrone Baker, Jaxon Etter, Jonathan Ned, Tyron McMillan, Christian Wright, Cam McDowell, Noah Baumann and Dalen Ridgnal.

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Georgia walk-on Jaxon Etter enters transfer portal

Georgia basketball junior guard Jaxon Etter started 22 games for UGA in 2021-2022

Georgia basketball junior guard Jaxon Etter, who appeared in 31 of Georgia’s 32 games last season, has entered the NCAA transfer portal. The 6-foot-4 guard is a walk-on and is looking for a new home. Etter averaged a career-high 5.1 points per game in 2021-2022.

Etter played high school basketball at Etowah High School in Woodstock, Georgia. Etter started 22 games for UGA including every SEC game. The Bulldogs finished last season 6-26. Georgia fired Tom Crean following the disappointing season.

First-year head coach Mike White is going to have a new look roster for his first season in Athens. So far, White and Georgia have added Longwood transfer Justin Hill. White will have to rely on the portal to build the rest of Georgia’s roster.

Starting Georgia guard Jaxon Etter is looking for a college basketball home. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Etter joins eight other Georgia Bulldogs in the NCAA transfer portal. Georgia basketball’s roster may only return a few players from the 2021-2022 season.

Georgia has ample playing time, games against high-level SEC competition and more to offer to recruits and transfers in order to rebuild the roster. The Dawgs can expect a lot of new faces to be on the team.

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Another Georgia basketball player enters transfer portal

Georgia Bulldog basketball forward Josh Taylor has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Nine Bulldogs are in the transfer portal right now

Georgia Bulldog basketball forward Josh Taylor has entered the NCAA transfer portal. The 6-foot-9 forward appeared in 10 games for the Bulldogs throughout the 2021-2022 season.

Taylor played high school basketball at Norcross in Norcross, Georgia. The sophomore played in seven games during the 2020-2021 season. Taylor  played 39 total minutes last season and averaged 1.1 points per game and 0.7 rebounds per game.

The former Norcross star had offers from Texas Tech, TCU, Georgia Tech, Houston and more coming out of high school. Taylor is a former three-star recruit.

Georgia basketball is undergoing a massive roster overhaul for the second offseason in a row. The Bulldogs and first-year head coach Mike White are looking to improve upon last season, when the Dawgs finished with only one SEC win.

UGA basketball added Longwood guard Justin Hill via transfer earlier this offseason, but the Dawgs have a lot of talent in the portal right now.

Taylor joins Tyrone Baker, Jaxon Etter, Jonathan Ned, Tyron McMillan, Christian Wright, Cam McDowell, Kario Oquendo and Dalen Ridgnal in the NCAA transfer portal. Georgia basketball’s roster will likely return only a few players from the 2021-2022 season.

The Dawgs will need to add several players via the transfer portal to replenish the roster.

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Georgia’s Cam McDowell enters transfer portal

Georgia Bulldogs basketball guard Cam McDowell joins several teammates in the NCAA transfer portal

Georgia Bulldog basketball guard Cam McDowell has entered the NCAA transfer portal. McDowell played 44 minutes across seven games during his freshman season in Athens.

Georgia basketball is undergoing a great deal of roster change for the second offseason in a row. The Bulldogs and new head coach Mike White are looking to improve upon a lowly 6-26 season in 2021-2022.

McDowell is a freshman from Powder Springs, Georgia. He played high school basketball at McEachern. He scored seven points and had seven assists for the Dawgs in 2021-2022.

Mike White has a challenge and lots of opportunity at Georgia. Online Athens- Joshua L Jones

White added Longwood guard Justin Hill via transfer following the NCAA Tournament. Hill brings NCAA Tournament experience to the Dawgs.

Additionally, Tyrone Baker, Christian Wright, Kario Oquendo and Dalen Ridgnal are in the NCAA transfer portal. Georgia basketball’s roster will look very different next season. The Dawgs will add several players via the transfer portal.

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Georgia basketball starting guard enters NCAA transfer portal

Georgia basketball starting guard Christian Wright joins several UGA teammates in NCAA transfer portal

Key Georgia basketball guard Christian Wright has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Wright came to Georgia as a three-star recruit out of Alpharetta, Georgia. Wright played basketball at The Skill Factory and attended Cambridge High School before coming to Georgia.

Wright played in all 32 of Georgia’s games last season. He was one of three players to accomplish that feat.

Wright started 11 games and averaged 22.1 minutes per game. Wright averaged 5.3 points per game and shot 34.8% overall last season. Georgia will miss Wright’s experience.

Georgia basketball’s roster will look significantly different for the 2022-2022 season as the Bulldogs are rebuilding the roster. The process will take time, however.

Head coach Mike White and Georgia basketball have already added Longwood guard Justin Hill via transfer. Hill brings NCAA Tournament experience from his time with Longwood to the Dawgs.

Additionally, several other Bulldogs are in the NCAA transfer portal, including leading scorer Kario Oquendo. Georgia basketball has several roster spots to fill and will likely use the transfer portal to look for replacements.

Georgia’s Christian Wright takes a shot during an NCAA basketball game between Florida and Georgia. Online Athens/Joshua L Jones

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UGA basketball forward Tyrone Baker enters transfer portal

Georgia basketball forward Tyrone Baker has entered the transfer portal. Baker played only 10 minutes during his freshman season.

Georgia Bulldog basketball forward Tyrone Baker has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Baker played only 10 minutes across three games during his freshman season in Athens.

The freshman forward suffered a broken hand during practice on Jan. 18,  and did not return for the remainder of the season.

Georgia basketball is undergoing a significant amount of roster change for a second consecutive offseason. The Bulldogs and first-year head coach Mike White are looking to improve upon a 6-26 season in 2021-2022 that featured only one SEC win.

Tryone Baker is a freshman from Fort Myers, Florida. He played high school basketball at Hightower High School in Texas. Baker scored two points and had two rebounds for the Dawgs in 2021-2022. The 6-foot-11 forward is a former three-star recruit.

Georgia Bulldogs forward Tyrone Baker scores on a put back shot against the Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

UGA basketball added Longwood guard Justin Hill via transfer in late March. Hill has NCAA Tournament experience and should have a large role with the Bulldogs in 2022.

Additionally, Dalen Ridgnal, Christian Wright, and Cam McDowell are in the NCAA transfer portal. Mike White and Georgia basketball have a few spots to fill and will likely utilize the transfer portal to strengthen the roster.

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Georgia basketball adds transfer from NCAA Tournament team

Mike White and UGA basketball have added former Longwood Lancers guard Justin Hill, who is transferring to Georgia.

The Georgia Bulldogs did not take long to add a new player under first year head coach Mike White. Longwood Lancers guard Justin Hill is transferring to Georgia.

Hill was the leading scored on Longwood’s 26-7 team in 2021-2022. Longwood made the NCAA Tournament before falling to Tennessee. Hill averaged a team-high 14.2 points per game this season.

The 6-foot, 185-pound point guard from Houston, Texas, is a key addition for the Bulldogs. Hill brings NCAA Tournament experience to Georgia’s roster.

Former Longwood Lancers guard Justin Hill figures to have a large role at Georgia. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Hill is a good shooter and can score at all three levels. He is Mike White’s first addition to the roster since becoming the head coach at Georgia. Hill helped Longwood go 15-1 in conference play. Longwood one the Big South and was a 14-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Hill announced his commitment to Georgia via Twitter:

Mike White will have to rebuild much of Georgia’s roster. The Bulldogs will need a combination of incoming transfers and freshman in order to improve off last season. Georgia already has some key players from the 2021-2022 season in the transfer portal.

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