Tag: georgia hoops

Georgia basketball lands forward PJ Horne, its third graduate transfer

Georgia basketball has secured Virginia Tech graduated transfer PF PJ Horne for the upcoming 2020 season.

Tom Crean has landed yet another transfer to play for Georgia in 2020.

PJ Horne, a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech, has decided to take his talents to Athens and join the Georgia Bulldogs.

Horne is originally from Tifton, Georgia, and was the No. 208 overall player in the 2017 class, according to 247Sports.

Horne, the 6-foot-6, 230 pound power forward, averaged 7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season with the Hokies.

Only six UGA players are returning from the 2019 season, which has left a lot of work for Crean in the recruiting department.

Just a week prior to Horne choosing the Dawgs, Andrew Garcia, a shooting guard graduate transfer from Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York, signed with Georgia.

April 26th was the day of the first graduate transfer signing for Georgia with George Mason University transfer shooting guard Justin Kier putting pen to paper.

The Dawgs now have eight new faces joining the roster.  That’s more players than are currently on the team. Five of those eight will be incoming freshman, along with the three graduate transfers.

UGA now has the No. 29 recruiting class in the country, and No. 8 class in the SEC.  You can view the full list of Georgia basketball’s 2020 recruiting class here.

Georgia basketball rounds out 2020 recruiting class with graduate transfer SG

Tom Crean and Georgia basketball round out the 2020 recruiting class with graduate transfer SG.

It was announced Wednesday that Tom Crean has rounded out his massive 2020 Georgia men’s basketball recruiting class of seven players.

Only six UGA players are returning from the 2019 season, leaving a big hole to fill for Crean’s Bulldogs. Anthony Edwards and Rayshaun Hammonds are two players that will not be returning, as both are headed to the NBA Draft.

The newest addition to the 2020 freshman class is Andrew Garcia, a shooting guard graduate transfer from Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York.

Garcia stands at 6-foot-5, 228 pounds and could be a very nice addition to the Dawgs’ young team.  He averaged 13.4 points per game for Stony Brook last season.

Garcia seems to be the full package and has lots of collegiate experience under his belt. He has a big frame for a shooting guard, can drive and finish strongly, can shoot the three, and can defend and block shots exceptionally well.

Crean sought out a great ball players that will most definitely help Georgia next season. It will be interesting to see how Garcia does in the SEC compared to the American East Conference that Stony Brook plays in.

Watch Garcia’s redshirt junior season highlights here:

How Georgia basketball’s 2020 recruiting class ranks nationally

Georgia basketball rises multiple spots in national college basketball 2020 recruiting rankings.

Following the expected news of Georgia basketball’s star freshman shooting guard Anthony Edwards leaving UGA after one year for the NBA Draft, junior forward Rayshaun Hammonds announced he will also be leaving in hopes of NBA glory.

The Dawgs’ third year head coach Tom Crean will need to replace the 32 points and 12.6 rebounds a game that Edwards and Hammonds produced last season.

Crean’s 2020 recruiting class isn’t quite what his 2019 class was, finishing 11th in all of college basketball (big thanks to Edwards), but it’s starting to attract some attention.

The Dawgs currently have one more spot open for their 2020-21 roster with seven players leaving and six players coming in.

The top man headlining Georgia’s 2020 recruiting class is point guard K.D. Johnson. Johnson is a 4-star recruit out of Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. He’s listed at 6-foot-1, 170 pounds and is 247Sports number 17 point guard in the country for the 2020 class.  Johnson broke the top-100 national recruits, recently rising 34 spots to the 93rd best player in the country. Check out some of Johnson’s highlights here.

Another big signing for the Bulldogs this offseason was power forward Josh Taylor.  Taylor, the 6-foot-8, 200 pound power forward out of Norcross, Georgia, is rated as the 24th best power forward in the 2020 class, and the 120th best overall player.

Jonathan Ned, Mikal Starks and Tyron McMillan round out the remaining signees for the 2020 class, along with graduate transfer Justin Kier from George Mason University.

Ned, Starks and McMillan are all coming to Athens from junior colleges and should be nice additions for the Dawgs.  Ned is listed as a 6-foot-9, 200 pound small forward, Starks is listed as a 6-foot-0, 180 pound point guard and McMillan is listed as a 6-foot-8, 225 pound power forward.

Starks and Ned both played at Eastern Florida State College where they excelled as teammates. The two signed their letter of intent together this past November.

Kier averaged 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists for his senior season at George Mason.  Kier should add some great playmaking ability and leadership to a very young Bulldog team.

The Dawgs 2020 recruiting class still has one spot open and is currently ranked 28th in the nation by 247Sports.  It will be tough losing as much talent as they are, but Crean is holding his own in the nation’s recruiting battle, acquiring some very solid players.

Georgia forward Rayshaun Hammonds makes final decision on NBA Draft

Georgia F Rayshaun Hammonds had made his final decision on his senior year in Athens.

Georgia basketball’s star forward Rayshaun Hammonds announced his final NBA Draft decision on Saturday, via Twitter.

Hammonds will forgo his senior season to pursue the next chapter of his basketball career in the NBA.

Hammonds, who stands at 6-foot-9, 235 pounds, averaged 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds a game as a junior last season, showing great improvement from his 6.7 and 4.9 as a freshman.  He shot 35% from three-point-range and 46% from the field.

Hammonds was the second-highest scorer on the team behind likely number one overall lottery draft pick Anthony Edwards. The Dawgs’ head coach Tom Crean, entering his third year with UGA, will have to somehow replace the loss of 32 points and 12.6 rebounds a game that Edwards and Hammonds produced last season.

“Rayshaun let me know the other night of his decision and he is following his heart and dreams,” Crean told the Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday.  “We will continue to support him in every possible way as he pursues his future and he will always be apart of the Georgia Basketball family and the University of Georgia community.”

Georgia’s 2019-20 season suddenly ended after a victory over Ole Miss in the first-round of the SEC Tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crean will also be losing his seniors Tyree Crump, Jordan Harris and Donnell Gresham as well as the transfer of freshman Rodney Howard to Georgia Tech. The Dawgs will have to recruit well and rebuild around their only returning starters Sahvir Wheeler and Toumani Camara.

Recruiting will only get harder with the NBA G-League announcing its new pathway program for high school players to take, detouring the NCAA.  There has already been a ripple effect seen, with the nation’s top high school player Jalen Green entering the pathway program.

“We are in the midst of restructuring and remodeling,” said Crean on the matter of the Dawgs recruiting process. “It will be ongoing each year with the landscape of college basketball.”

 

Georgia basketball freshman transfers to Tech

Georgia Bulldogs freshman basketball player Rodney Howard is electing to transfer to rival Georgia Tech

Georgia Bulldogs freshman basketball player Rodney Howard is electing to transfer to rival Georgia Tech. Howard, a center, will provide the Yellow Jackets with some size on the interior. He’s anticipated to have to sit out for one season. Howard played in 24 games as a freshman.

Under head basketball coach Tom Crean, Howard averaged 7.3 minutes per game. He averaged 1.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.3 fouls in his limited playing time. He was a potential building block for the future and a nice piece of UGA’s great 2019 basketball recruiting class.

Howard announced his plans to transfer to Georgia Tech via Twitter:

How initially considered attending Georgia Tech when he made his decision to commit to the University of Georgia. Georgia Tech went 17-14 during the 2019-2020 season, where they were ineligible for post-season play. The Yellow Jackets finished fifth in the ACC, but they fell to Anthony Edwards and the Georgia Bulldogs in non-conference play.

Howard played at Legacy Charter High School in Greenville, South Carolina. He was a three-star center prospect in the class of 2019.

Feb 12, 2020; Athens, Georgia, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard A.J. Lawson (00) dribbles up court against Georgia Bulldogs forward Rodney Howard (24) during the first half at Stegeman Coliseum.Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

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UGA’s Anthony Edwards declares for NBA Draft

Georgia Bulldogs stud freshman and potential number one overall pick Anthony Edwards has declared for the 2020 NBA Draft.

Georgia Bulldogs stud freshman and potential number one overall pick Anthony Edwards has declared for the 2020 NBA Draft. Edwards averaged a team-high 19.1 points per game for the University of Georgia during the 2019-2020 season.

Edwards will work on his efficiency in the NBA as he only shot 40% from the field and made under 30% of his three point attempts. That being said, Edwards will have better shot selection in the NBA.

247Sports’ Evan Daniels initially reported the news:

Edwards will be a joy to watch in the NBA. He has the talent and work ethic of an elite player. Can he put it together in the NBA?

The NBA team with the worst record in the NBA: the Golden State Warriors. It’d be something to watch Edwards play for Steph Curry and the Warriors, but Golden State is expected to trade the top overall pick for somebody who can help them win now. The Warriors title window is closing with 32 year-old Steph Curry, 30 year-old Klay Thompson, and 30 year-old Draymond Green.

The NBA regular season may already be over, but there will be a lottery to determine the order of the 2020 NBA Draft. The Atlanta Hawks currently have the fourth best odds at the number one pick. The Hawks come in behind the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Golden State Warriors.

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Freshman transferring out of Georgia basketball

Georgia Bulldogs freshman basketball player Rodney Howard is transferring out of the University of Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs freshman basketball player Rodney Howard is transferring out of the University of Georgia. Howard played in only 24 games as a freshman.

Under head basketball coach Tom Crean, Howard played only 7.3 minutes per game. He averaged 1.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.3 fouls in his limited playing time.

The Stadium’s Jeff Goodman reported the news of Howard’s transfer out of Georgia:

There is no immediate destination for Howard. Howard played at Legacy Charter High School in Greenville, South Carolina. He was a three star center prospect in the class of 2019.

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Georgia football Pro Day postponed amid coronavirus outbreak

Amid the growing concern over the spread of the coronavirus, Georgia football has postponed its Pro Day.

As a result of the growing concern over the spread of the coronavirus, Georgia has announced its Pro Day, which was to be held next Wednesday, has been postponed.

This announcement came shortly after the school also said that spring practice has been postponed. 

According to this tweet below, Georgia will host no spring football through at least March 30th.

That means the Pro Day and the Coaches Clinic will not take place. It’s unlikely that the coaches clinic will be rescheduled, though the Pro Day should be moved to a yet-to-be-determined date.

The Pro-Day turnout would have been underwhelming, as NFL teams are being cautious about sending scouts across the country to observe. Many NFL teams have already said they will be sending nobody.

Previously, the SEC suspended all on-campus and in-home recruiting for its member institutions.

With students scheduled to return to Athens from spring break on Monday, Georgia announced it will not hold classes for the next two weeks. Students have been asked by authorities to stay away from campus until Sunday March 29.

On Thursday, the NCAA cancelled all championships for the rest of the 2019-20 academic year, including the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

Georgia football postpones spring practice due to coronavirus

With nearly all sporting events in the United States suspended due to the threat of the Coronavirus, Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said Friday that the Bulldogs will not begin spring practice as originally scheduled. UGA was to begin …

With nearly all sporting events in the United States suspended due to the threat of the Coronavirus, Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said Friday that the Bulldogs will not begin spring practice as originally scheduled.

UGA was to begin spring practice on Tuesday, but McGarity told Athens radio station 960 that practices for football will be suspended for “weeks”.

“We’re following the guidance from the chancellors which said students are strongly encouraged to be off-campus,” McGarity said. “For us to be able to practice with that directive doesn’t make sense.

“So for this period of time, there will be no practices. We’ll just see where things stand after that two week period.”

In addition, with G-Day scheduled for April 18, it is appearing less likely the annual spring game will be played this year.

Previously, the SEC suspended all on-campus and in-home recruiting for its member institutions.

With students scheduled to return to Athens from spring break on Monday, Georgia announced it will not hold classes for the next two weeks. Students have been asked by authorities to stay away from campus until Sunday March 29.

On Thursday, the NCAA cancelled all championships for the rest of the 2019-20 academic year, including the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

Will Georgia football cancel G-Day due to coronavirus?

Is Georgia football going to cancel G-Day due to coronavirus?

With the Georgia campus largely empty this week as students are on spring break, the main concern for faculty and administrators is the possibility of eliminating in-person classes on account of the unfolding COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

With social distancing becoming necessary, it is possible the university could close for a period of time. In anticipation of this event, the University System of Georgia has produced an online training course called “Rapid Guide to Teaching Online.”

For the time being, however, the university has sent an email to all of its students, faculty and staff stating that the school is planning on resuming normal class operations on Monday, March 16th – the first day back from spring break.

Many schools across the nation have extended spring break and will do way with in-person classes temporarily. Washington, Stanford, Penn State, several Ivy League schools and others have already gone this route. Wednesday, the Florida Board of Governors declared that all public universities in Florida have been directed to transition all in-person classes to online platforms effective immediately, a precautionary step to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.

With Georgia’s 15 days of spring practice to begin March 17, culminating with the annual G-Day Game on April 18, contingency plans are being made for the football team. Options include practicing in isolation and playing G-Day in an empty stadium or cancelling the spring season. G-Day, which has attracted huge crowds of up to 94,000 to Sanford Stadium in the Kirby Smart era, has become a tremendous recruiting tool for the Bulldogs. However, with some states, such as Ohio and Washington banning athletic events, it would not be a surprise to see the state of Georgia follow.

On Wednesday, the NCAA announced that March Madness, including the Final Four in April, would be played in empty stadiums. Less than 24 hours later, the Power 5 leagues cancelled their conference tournaments. Following suit were the American, Atlantic 10, Conference USA, MAC, America East, Big Sky and WAC.

After the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, it is increasingly more likely that Georgia will follow in the footsteps of other schools and cancel G-Day or play a controlled scrimmage without spectators.