In the case of the Georgia Bulldogs, nearly everybody’s minds immediately journey to the 8-2 soccer workforce vying for a spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff with fairly a lot of NFL hopefuls on the roster.
That has been the case in every of the final 4 seasons, because the Bulldogs basketball workforce has been inconsistent, hovering round .500 yearly, whereas consistently struggling in SEC play.
Nonetheless, for the primary time in 5 years, there could also be one thing important to cheer for in Athens. Effectively, actually somebody.
Meet five-star ahead Asa Newell, the No. 11 recruit within the Class of 2024, and Georgia’s third-highest recruit of all time behind Anthony Edwards and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, each of whom have seen important success within the NBA.
Newell dedicated to Georgia effectively over a yr in the past, shutting down his recruitment again in August of 2023, and immediately has turn into the face of this system since his arrival on campus.
The Bulldogs have began the season 4-0, which features a 77-69 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and Newell has additionally earned his position because the workforce’s main scorer, averaging 16.8 factors, 7.5 rebounds and a couple of.5 blocks per recreation, whereas taking pictures 53.6 p.c from the sphere and main the workforce in minutes.
Asa Newell’s defensive versatility, floor protection and really feel defending the rim has been a constant pressure, early this season. Whether or not it is assist facet, PnR or simply effort performs.
10 blocks by way of 3 video games for the Georgia freshman ahead. pic.twitter.com/YIZ4kvSzzm
— Keandre Ashley (@HoopIntelllect) November 13, 2024
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Newell exploded for 26 factors in his debut, tying Dominique Wilkins’ freshman report, and helped will his workforce to an 83-78 win over Tennessee Tech. He has since put up at the very least 13 factors in each recreation, whereas taking pictures over 50 p.c from the sphere.
His early performances led him to win SEC Freshman of the Week this previous week, because of robust two-way play, as he’s blocked at the very least three photographs in three of the workforce’s 4 video games.
“He’s about the suitable stuff,” head coach Mike White said after Newell’s 26 points in the season opener. “He’ll be within the health club tomorrow morning getting photographs up on his personal. He’ll be there on the break day tomorrow. He’ll be begging the [graduate assistants] to get within the health club to work him out. That’s simply who he’s. In the summertime, we needed to kick him out of the health club.
“He understands that he will get it. He is aware of that we weren’t at our greatest defensively. He’ll put a few of that on himself, though he was unbelievable. I don’t assume there have been as many defensive miscues with him as there have been throughout the board, usually talking. Six offensive rebounds, in passing lanes defensively, altering photographs on the rim. He’s mature past his years. He’s an accountable participant.”
Newell’s fast acclimation to the school stage offers Georgia their most proficient freshman since Anthony Edwards was on campus again in 2019. However, there’s a distinction between the groups surrounding the freshmen, as Edwards may solely lead the Bulldogs to a 16-16 report, regardless of being a prime participant within the nation on the time.
Behind Newell, the Bulldogs are hoping that an NCAA event look is within the playing cards for the primary time since 2015. They’d their first postseason look since 2017, once they earned an invite to the NIT, making all of it the way in which to the semifinals.
Now, they return sophomores Silas Demary Jr. and Blue Cain as returning starters, whereas the rest of the important thing rotation items are both transfers or freshmen. Can Newell be that lacking piece that returns Georgia to the dance? Time will inform.
