The UGA Wire staff voted and we gave our starting five that we would take if we were drafting a pick-up basketball team composed of Georgia football players.
Next, we reached out to former Georgia players Isaiah Wilson, Mecole Hardman, Tavarres King and Dannell Ellerbe to get their starting five of former or current players.
The players only had one rule: They were asked to draft players who played at Georgia from the time they started their careers to present day.
(Example: Mecole Hardman, who started playing for Georgia in 2016, was able to choose UGA players from 2016-2020.)
(Another example: Dannell Ellerbe, who played for Georgia from 2004-8, was able to choose UGA players from 2004-2020.)
So, the older players certainly had an advantage, but let’s see who had the best squad.
Now, it’s time for you to vote on which of these five squads you would take.
Here are the teams:
Vote for the best team at the bottom.
1. Team UGA Wire (We picked from current players only):
Point Guard: Jamie Newman (6-4, quarterback)
Shooting Guard: Richard LeCounte (5-11, safety)
Small Forward: George Pickens (6-3, wide receiver)
Power Forward: Jermaine Johnson (6-5, outside linebacker)
Center: Darnell Washington (6-7.5, tight end/defensive end)
We went with all current Georgia players for our picks to keep things in the present, even though we gave players to option to pick former Dawgs.
Wake Forest transfer QB Jamie Newman would be a commanding point guard with great court vision, complemented by an athletic and scrappy defender in the backcourt with Richard LeCounte. George Pickens would be the go-to scorer while JJ and D-Wash would hold things down in the paint.
2. Team Zay (Isaiah Wilson)
Able to choose Georgia players between 2017-20:
Point Guard: Jamie Newman (6-4, quarterback)
Shooting Guard: Richard LeCounte (5-11, safety)
Small Forward: George Pickens (6-3, wide receiver)
Power Forward: Bill Norton (6-6, defensive tackle)
Center: Jordan Davis (6-6, defensive tackle)
There were a lot of similarities between Isaiah’s team and ours, both selecting Newman, LeCounte and Pickens. Wilson then went with size in his picks, taking defensive tackles Bill Norton and Jordan Davis (both standing at 6-6) as his front court.
3. Team JET (Mecole Hardman)
Able to choose Georgia players between 2016-20:
Point Guard: Terry Godwin (5-11, wide receiver)
Shooting Guard: Javon Wims (6-2, wide receiver)
Small Forward: Richard LeCounte (5-11, safety)
Power Forward: Lorenzo Carter (6-5, linebacker)
Center: Davin Bellamy (6-5, linebacker)
Mecole’s team would have a lot of skill and finesse with Godwin and Wims in the backcourt while also being very physical with Carter and Bellamy defending the paint. Mecole’s big men are physical but also are quite athletic and in shape, giving them stretch 4 and 5 capabilities on offense.
4. Team TK (Tavarres King)
Able to choose Georgia players between 2008-20:
Point Guard: Tavarres King (6-2 wide receiver)
Shooting Guard: Brandon Boykin (5-10, cornerback)
Small Forward: A.J. Green (6-4, wide receiver)
Power Forward: Marlon Brown (6-5, wide receiver)
Center: Fred Gibson (6-4, wide receiver)
King went with a four receiver team, adding cornerback Brandon Boykin because he clearly has crazy hops. Believe it or not, Freddy Gibson actually had a short stint in the NBA D League (now the G League) with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds and the Austin Toros.
TK gave a little analysis to go along with his selections:
“Tried to go all WR squad but Boykin my son so he can play on my team. 🤣 I like that squad though! Other Hoopers: Justin Houston, Clint Boling, Rambo.”
5. Team 2 Rings (Dannell)
Point Guard: D.J. Shockley (6-1, quarterback)
Shooting Guard: Tony Taylor (6-0, linebacker)
Small Forward: Antonio Sims (6-1, safety)
Power Forward: Quentin Moses (6-5, defensive end)
Center: Leonard Pope (6-8, tight end)
Ellerbe’s squad is old-school, and may include a few names that are unfamiliar to some of our younger readers. Ellerbe showed some love to two of the greatest to ever do it at Georgia, Quentin Moses and Leonard Pope. Both of these men were monsters in Athens and can play bully ball down low.
Now that you have the teams, it’s your turn to vote.
Vote for your favorite team here. There are no losers, just Dawgs.
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