LATEST NEWS : These key players are why Georgia Bulldogs could be ‘significantly better’ this year

ATHENS – As the Georgia Bulldogs prepare to begin preseason camp on Monday, coach Mike White and a few of his players took some time to talk about the upcoming season. Their message was plain. While everyone is excited about the possibilities of White’s third UGA team, nobody is talking about the NCAA or any other postseason tournaments.
White stated at the end of last season that he believed the Bulldogs were too focused on postseason success. While they advanced to the NIT semifinals, the squad seemed to back out of the tournament bid. By the end of the 2024-25 season, what had once been an inspiration felt more like a burden.

So, while “NCAA” and “tournament” aren’t precisely filthy words, Bulldogs won’t be using them anytime soon. “We’re spending a lot of time talking about culture,” White stated Monday at the Stegeman Coliseum Training Facility. “We’re discussing culture, progress, and process. We won’t discuss whether or not we’ll go to the tournament this year, the NIT, or anything else. We’re just talking about getting better today and what that looks like.”

Georgia is expected to perform significantly better in 2024-25. With three true freshmen starting by the end of previous season, the Bulldogs finished 20-17 against one of the SEC’s most difficult overall schedules. Those three freshmen, Silas Demary Jr., Blue Cain, and Dylan James, are now sophomores and have returned. Meanwhile, White and his staff combed the world for talent to surround them. They appear to have found some as well. Some traveled from Georgia’s backyard, others from the other side of the planet, and some from both. Somto Cyril, a 6-foot-11 thunder dunker, attended Atlanta’s Overtime Elite Academy but is originally from Enugu, Nigeria. And UGA had to wait long into the summer to sign European standout Savo Drezgic.

Was busy playing club ball at home in Belgrade, Serbia. Meanwhile, RJ Godfrey, Tyrin Lawrence, and Dakota Leffew will transfer from Clemson, Vanderbilt, and St. Mary’s, respectively. However, all three are native Georgians who grew up just down the street. The crown gem of the 2024 recruiting class is 5-star freshman signee Asa Newell. While it took several trips to Destin, Florida, and Montverde Academy to find him, he and his brother Jaden (who was already a UGA student) grew up in Athens. With them and a few other key components, Georgia appears to be one of the most improved teams in the well-stocked SEC.

“We’re going to be good, we are,” said White, who is 36-33 entering his third season with the Bulldogs. “Our whole league is going to be good. But I like our group; it’s a highly competitive group that has worked hard.” It’s not like White will get his first sight at them on Monday. Practice rules have altered significantly in recent years, allowing coaches and players to spend more time together during the preseason. The truth is that the Bulldogs have been working hard since autumn classes began in early August, and perhaps much earlier. That’s especially significant in the age of the transfer portal. Georgia’s roster this year contains five transfers and four freshmen signees, which seems like a lot of newness until

Consider that the Bulldogs had six transfers and four freshmen signees a year ago. It’s just the way of the world these days. So is convincing your top players to continue with you, as Georgia was able to do with Demary, Cain, and James. “I definitely think we’re taking steps in the right direction,” said Demary, who started 36 games last season and is the team’s best returning scorer (9.7 ppg). “Last year was a start, and I believe that this year, with the addition of some of the better players and the return of myself, Blue, and Dylan, we are gelling. The chemistry is there, and we are growing by the day.” The initial reports from inside the practice gym are favorable. The dunks, blocks, and athleticism demonstrated

Cyril, a 6-11, 260-pounder, has a daily discussion. “Somto’s got a 7-foot-6 wingspan and really, really elevates on the floor,” White joked. “There’s a couple of plays a day where some jaws are dropped.” Demary confirms. “He dunked on me once in practice, and it was unbelievable for me,” said the 6-5 sophomore guard. “I was talking crap to him, and he got me back. “He is a lot of fun.”
Asa Newell has been as excellent, according to his colleagues. That’s a good thing, given that ESPN’s No. 2 power forward is the second-highest-rated recruit ever to sign at Georgia. Only Anthony “Antman” Edwards, who finished fourth overall in 2019, has placed higher.

“I definitely think he lives up to it,” Cain said about the new Newell. “He has a wicked motor, plays crazy hard, and is much more skilled than I expected. “He’s an excellent player.” However, Godfrey may have had the greatest impact on the 2024-25 Bulldogs. Randall Godfrey’s son, Randall Jr., came to UGA from Clemson, where he was a regular on two tournament teams. Godfrey reportedly increased the intensity and accountability on the floor and in the locker room.

“He’s been terrific,” White remarked. “RJ was a great player on some really excellent teams, and he played with some extremely good front-court guys. We know what we’re getting from RJ every day in terms of consistency, motor, and toughness, and it’s rubbed off a little.” Demary concurred: “RJ understands what it takes to get there.” He is a tremendous locker room and culture person. “He is one of our leaders.” Georgia expects that the addition of talent, combined with an emphasis on culture and a daily drive to improve, will result in a far better basketball squad. Will anyone notice in a more tough SEC, which has expanded to encompass Oklahoma and Texas?

“I think there’s a chance we can be significantly better than last year,” White told the crowd. “Where does that place us in our league?” I have no idea. Worrying about it prevents us from focusing on improving now. But I’ve played in this league since I was 18, and it’s the finest it’s ever been.” Perhaps Georgia basketball is, too.