Tag: Georgia

Georgia basketball lands major transfer target

Georgia basketball adds commitment from Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rookie of the year

The transfer portal continues to rage on in the world of college athletics, and after losing numerous contributors in recent weeks. Head coach Mike White and the Georgia Bulldogs basketball program got a major pickup in their favor on Thursday. Mount St. Mary’s guard De’Shayne Montgomery officially chose the Bulldogs over Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Southern Cal, announcing the decision on his Instagram.

Montgomery is originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and is coming off of a breakout season for the Mountaineers where he averaged 13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. He came on strong toward the end of the year where he scored over 24 points in four of the final five games and was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rookie of the year for his performance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C56mLEJploU

Montgomery is the first transfer acquisition for the Dawgs this offseason, and they are expected to target many more as they seek to replace numerous players from a season ago. A dynamic addition at guard like Montgomery was especially critical in light of the exit of points leader Noah Thomasson as well as the transfers of multiple others at the position.

ESPN names Kirby Smart top coach of next decade

After the exits of Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh, ESPN’s Bill Connelly sees Kirby Smart as the clear favorite to be the top coach in defining the next decade of college football.

Following the retirement of Nick Saban and NFL departure from Jim Harbaugh, the coaching overhaul in college football has left questions as to who will step up and replace such prominent voices. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart’s résumé would make him a clear favorite, a sentiment echoed by ESPN’s Bill Connelly in his recent rankings of the “30 coaches who will define the next decade of college football” (ESPN+ subscription required to access).

Smart was placed atop the rankings, in the tier of “Successful head coaches with plenty of tread left on the tires”. Connelly cites Smart’s success in relation to other former Saban assistants, as well as the fact that he has not lost to a non-Saban coached team since 2020. His two national titles are tied for the lead among active coaches and Georgia’s relentless recruiting makes it all the more likely that Kirby Smart will stay ranked No. 1. “He’s the top dawg in this sport”, writes Connelly.

Smart’s coaching tree also has a presence on the list, with Oregon head coach and former Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning ranking No. 7 overall and current defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann ranking at the top among assistant coaches.

Georgia running back to enter transfer portal

Georgia football running back expected to enter transfer portal, leaving UGA with six scholarship running backs for the 2024 season, including three freshmen.

With the transfer portal re-opening tomorrow for the next two weeks, no team is exempt from roster movement. This includes Georgia, as running back Andrew Paul announced his plans to enter the portal just two days removed from the Bulldogs’ spring game on his Instagram.

Paul was in line to contend for a large rotational role at the running back position this season, though was still presumed to be the third option in the group. The 5-foot-11, 220 pound former three-star recruit is originally from Dallas, Texas, and chose the Dawgs in 2022 over Clemson and Michigan among others. He saw limited action in 2023, rushing for 129 yards on 29 carries with one touchdown after missing the 2022 season with an ACL tear.

Paul’s decision leaves the Bulldogs with six scholarship running backs for the 2024 season at this time, those being Florida transfer Trevor Etienne, sophomore Roderick Robinson, redshirt sophomore Branson Robinson, and three incoming freshmen in Chauncey Bowens, Dwight Phillips Jr., and Nate Frazier. He recorded 44 yards on four carries during the G-day game on Saturday.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5yhYM3O3mY/?igsh=ZGFpbHgxNXZ4eXlm

It’s entirely possible that Georgia will look to replace Paul with another running back in the transfer portal.

Javon Bullard comments on playing style, versatility in lead up to NFL draft

With the 2024 NFL draft closing in, Javon Bullard is one of the most highly-rated players at his position. He recently commented on what sets him apart

With the NFL draft a couple of weeks away, around 10 Georgia players are expecting to hear their name called. Javon Bullard is one of the most highly rated of these prospects, and he recently commented on what sets him apart as a prospect in an interview with the NFL Network.

When asked about his versatility, Bullard said, “I play defense,” in reference to his ability to play numerous positions across the lineup, adding, “Your versatility is your value.” Bullard was originally recruited as a cornerback and played the STAR position at Georgia before transitioning to safety in his junior year.

Bullard also was asked about the physical nature of his game, as he became known over his time at Georgia as one of the hardest hitting safeties in college football. He said he embraces the physicality of the game, saying, “This game should be played one way.”

Both of these attributes will benefit Bullard greatly through the draft process. Over the course of his career at Georgia, he recorded 114 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and four interceptions, and was named defensive MVP of the national championship against TCU in 2022.

Georgia golf courses (even those not named Augusta National) are enhancing wildlife habitats

“Our goal is to help people, especially non-golfers, to see the golf course as more than just a golf course.”

In spring of 2023, the University of Georgia Golf Course was designated as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. Extra care is taken into account for upkeep in an effort to run in an environmentally friendly way.

“It takes a lot to maintain golf courses,” said Scott Griffith, associate director of agronomy at the University of Georgia golf course. “And we have to maintain them on a daily basis. There are a lot of misconceptions regarding fertilizers. If the grass is growing too fast, that creates more work for us. It creates a negative situation not only on our staff and our customers but also our budgets. Slow-release fertilizers are used judiciously.”

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf is a certification program that helps golf courses protect the environment. The goal is to help enhance wildlife habitats and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations. The program serves an important environmental role worldwide.

“I’ve always been environmentally conscious,” said Griffith. “A lot of the things that were listed in this program we were already doing. For me, it was important, because it represents UGA. Our motto is, ‘Elevate the G’. Anything we can do to elevate the University of Georgia and this is one way for us to do that.”

Frank LaVandera, director of environmental programs for golf with Audubon International, said the organization was founded in 1987 with a clear goal in mind.

“Initially, we received money from the United States Golf Association,” said LaVandera. “At that time the USGA wanted to see if we could change the perspective about golf courses. For many years golf courses may have had a negative connotation. Some people felt that golf courses used a lot of chemicals, water and were bad for the environment.”

LaVandera said the certification process to be designated as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses has six components.

The components are as follows:

  • Site Assessment/Environmental Planning
  • Wildlife and Habitat Management
  • Chemical Use Reduction and Safety
  • Water Conservation
  • Water Quality Management
  • Outreach and Education

“As the course goes through the environmental plan, we ask questions about water conservation, things they’re doing for chemical reduction,” said LaVandera. “At the end of the environmental plan, the course identifies the things that need to be completed in each of those categories. Once all the categories are approved, we actually come to the course and we do what’s called the certification site visit.”

‘More than just a golf course’

“Our goal is to help people, especially non-golfers, to see the golf course as more than just a golf course. In highly suburbanized and urban areas, golf courses act as a great natural filtration for stormwater that comes onto the course from other areas. A golf course can provide habitat for wildlife.

“A golf course can provide a cooling effect in the summertime. Two blocks away from the golf course is 95 degrees but actually on the golf course because of that turf, it might be six or seven degrees cooler. A course that doesn’t stay open all year can be available for people out walking and those sorts of things.”

LaVandera said more golf courses are moving to a more sustainable way of operating.

“Even if a golf course isn’t in our program, generally, the vast majority of golf courses operate in what I would consider to be a sustainable manner,” he said. “Just about every golf course has a best management plan, which, as the name implies, allows us to document and implement best management practices as it relates to managing the golf course. It also has an environmental component to it.”

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with several funders and Journalism Funding Funding Partners.

Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@gannett.com or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.

Two experts predict Georgia Bulldogs to land four-star edge rusher

On3’s Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons have both officially predicted the Bulldogs as the favorite to land a highly rated edge rusher

Coming off of a visit to Athens this past weekend, multiple projections have been logged in favor of a highly touted class of 2025 recruit landing with the Georgia Bulldogs. On3’s Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons have both officially predicted edge rusher Darren Ikinnagbon to commit to UGA.

“From the staff, to the vibe, to meeting Coach Smart and talking ball, seeing how UGA wants to utilize him, those are all enticing things to Ikinnagbon,” noted Wiltfong. Simmons added, “Since visiting Georgia for the first time, the Bulldogs have been viewed as the team to beat.” Penn State, Ohio State, and Notre Dame are also heavily involved in Ikinnagbon’s recruitment.

Ikinnagbon is listed as a 6-foot-5, 251-pound edge rusher/defensive lineman out of Hillside, New Jersey. In addition to football, he also wrestles and has experience running track and playing basketball at Hillside High School. He finished his junior season with 52 tackles, 13 tackles-for-loss, and five sacks for the year. He would join Stephon Shivers as the second defensive line recruit in the Bulldogs’ current class of 2025.

Third UGA basketball player enters the transfer portal

A third Georgia basketball contributor enters the transfer portal.

After losing two contributors to the transfer portal earlier on April 8, yet another player has opted to depart from the Georgia basketball program. Forward Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe announced via his Instagram that he will be entering the transfer portal.

Moncrieffe, listed at 6-foot-7, 215 pounds, started 26 games in his first year at Georgia in the 2022-2023 season, scoring 5.5 points per game as well as contributing 5.1 rebounds per game. However, his minutes declined this past season as he only recorded 1.4 points and 1.1 rebounds per game, with a high of six points against North Carolina Central near the start of the season.

https://www.instagram.com/matthew_alexander11/p/C5g9nXVrFH4/

Moncrieffe had previously played college basketball at Oklahoma State prior to transferring to UGA. He started 21 games for the Cowboys over two years, including a game in his freshman year against the Iowa State Cyclones in which he recorded a career-high 22 points and 12 rebounds. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Moncrieffe joins point guard Justin Hill, Georgia’s assist leader, and forward Jalen Deloach in entering the transfer portal.

Georgia wideout could be in for breakout year

Four years into his UGA career, one speedy Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver has been generating a lot of buzz this spring

Four years into his Georgia Bulldogs career, one Georgia wide receiver has been garnering a lot of buzz regarding his development this spring. Arian Smith has reportedly developed his skillset to a new level this spring, and coupled with his experience, he could be one of the top weapons for quarterback Carson Beck in 2024.

Kirby Smart recently commented on Smith’s progress, saying, “I think we’ve made a concerted effort to spend more time on developing Arian…We’ve taken some of those times that he’s invested four years in special teams work, and we’ve allowed him to really grow as a wideout. I think it’s helped him do that.”

Smith has made his presence known this spring, hauling in a pair of explosive catches in both of Georgia’s scrimmages so far.

Smith has mostly been used as a vertical threat for the Bulldogs over his four years in Athens, averaging nearly 27 yards per catch. He started two games for the Dawgs a season ago, catching eight passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 20 targets. However, he came on strong with a catch in every game at the end of the year, including a 51-yard deep ball against Alabama and a touchdown in the Orange Bowl against Florida State.

Smith has also received praise from his teammates, including starting receiver Dominic Lovett, who referred to him as “the spark-plug” of the receiving room.  As the Dawgs seek to replace Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Smith’s emergence could prove to be a major difference in the offensive outlook for 2024.

Second Georgia basketball player enters the transfer portal

Following the announcement regarding the transfer of Jalen Deloach, a second UGA basketball contributor has entered the portal.

Following the transfer announcement of Jalen Deloach this morning, the Georgia basketball roster shakeup continued into the afternoon. Guard Justin Hill has entered the transfer portal after his second season at Georgia.

Hill started 13 games over the past two years at Georgia and was a consistent contributor, averaging 9.5 points per game and 3.2 assists per game a season ago, including a 21-point performance against Wake Forest in the National Invitational Tournament. He had a memorable moment this season when he hit a game-winning shot to beat Florida State. Georgia will miss Hill’s efficient passing and playmaking ability.

Hill is listed at 6 feet and 185 pounds, and he is a native of Richmond, Texas. Prior to arriving in Athens, he played his first two seasons at Longwood, where he started 40 games over two years. During his sophomore season he averaged 14.2 points per game and Longwood won the Big South en route to an NCAA Tournament bid. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.