Hot on the recruiting trail, Mike White and Georgia basketball could surprise this year.
The tradition continues! CBB Review is again ranking the top 100 teams heading into the new college basketball season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Georgia basketball.
Against all odds, Georgia managed a 20-win season last year. There were highs, such as a 10-game winning streak spanning between late November to early January, starting the SEC slate 4-2, and coming back from double-digits to beat Florida State on the road.
But there were also lows, like a six-game losing streak with four single-digit losses, starting 2-3 on the year, and failing to beat a single ranked opponent all season long. If a few more breaks had gone Georgia’s way, we could possibly have been talking about them as a tournament team.
In a way, we can talk about them as a tournament team, just not the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs accepted an invitation to the NIT, where they defeated, in turn, Xavier, Wake Forest, and Ohio State. If Georgia basketball played like that the whole season, who knows where they would have ended up. But in reality, they ended up in the NIT semifinals before losing to Seton Hall. All things considered, not a bad season.
This year, expectations are higher. 5-star freshman Asa Newell joins the program and is expected to start. Even with notable departures in the backcourt with Noah Thomasson and Jabri Abdur-Rahim gone, the cupboard is by no means bare. Silas Demary Jr. returns to run point after a solid debut season. Mike White dipped into the portal to grab projected starting shooting guard Tyrin Lawrence from Vanderbilt and the entire Mount St. Mary’ starting backcourt from last year (De’Shayne Montgomery and Dakota Leffew). Blue Cain also returns to the back, part of a talented freshman duo with Demary Jr., and freshman Savo Drezgić will provide depth.
In the frontcourt, all is well despite the loss of Russel Tchewa. Asa Newell, the aforementioned 5-star, will likely be the Bulldogs’ starting power forward when the season tips off, while Appalachian State transfer Justin Abson will likely start at center. Abson is a premier paint protector and one of the best defenders in the nation. Freshman Somto Cyril will also see plenty of time down low as a very talented prospect, with Clemson transfer RJ Godfrey, and returning sophomore Dylan James all providing much-needed depth to the rotation. All in all, there is hope for this Georgia Bulldog team, and Mike White’s foundation is beginning to show. If Georgia can start to take down ranked opponents this season, (they will have the opportunity to do so) they can take the next step.
Click here to learn more about our preseason top 100 teams heading into the 2024-25 college basketball season.
Head coach: Mike White (3rd season at Georgia, 14th season overall)
2023-24 record: 20-17 (6-12)
2024 postseason finish: Lost to Seton Hall (84-67) in the NIT Semifinals
Notable departures:
- Noah Thomasson (13.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.6 APG)
- Jabri Abdur-Rahim (12.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0.3 APG)
- RJ Melendez (9.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 0.8 APG)
- Justin Hill (9.5 PPG, 3.2 APG, 1.7 RPG)
- Russel Tchewa (7.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.3 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- at Georgia Tech (Nov. 15)
- vs. Marquette (Nov. 23)
- vs. St. John’s (Nov. 24)
- vs. Notre Dame (Dec. 3)
- vs. Grand Canyon (Dec. 14)
Projected Rotation
PG: Silas Demary Jr. (6-5, 195, So.)
2023-24 stats: 9.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.5 APG
SG: Tyrin Lawrence (6-4, 200, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 13.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.5 APG (Vanderbilt)
SF: Blue Cain (6-5, 195, So.)
2023-24 stats: 7.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.8 APG
PF: Asa Newell (6-11, 220, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #19 ranked recruit
C: Justin Abson (6-9, 255, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 7.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.4 APG (App State)
6: Dakota Leffew (6-5, 195, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 17.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.9 APG (Mount St. Mary’s)
7: Somto Cyril (6-11, 260, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #46 ranked recruit
8: RJ Godfrey (6-8, 230, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 6.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.8 APG (Clemson)
9: DeShayne Montgomery (6-5, 190, So.)
2023-24 stats: 13.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.0 APG (Mount St. Mary’s)
10: Dylan James (6-9, 210, So.)
2023-24 stats: 4.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.5 APG
11: Savo Drezgić (6-4, 190, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #208 ranked recruit
Georgia Basketball Team MVP: Silas Demary Jr.
Demary Jr. came in as a touted freshman and earned that title quickly. Starting in 36 of the team’s 37 games, Demary Jr. provided a steadying force to the Bulldog defense, leading the team in defensive box plus/minus, defensive win shares, and placing 2nd behind RJ Melendez in steal percentage. Even as a freshman in the SEC, Demary Jr. showed the ability to defend against veteran players on the perimeter, making the most of his opportunities and helping glue the team’s outside defense together.
Offensively, Demary Jr. had the 2nd-highest assist percentage on the team last season, behind just Justin Hill. Even on a team where the backcourt was veteran-laden, Demary Jr. held his own and did exactly what Mike White needed him to do. As one of the focal points in the offense, Demary Jr. was able to place 3rd on Georgia in points produced, accounting for 368 points last year. This year, the team will need him to take full control of the offense. It’s certainly a title he can handle.
Georgia Basketball make-or-break player: Asa Newell
Newell, the highest-rated recruit in Mike White’s 2024 class, joins the team out of Montverde Academy. While there, he was highly productive as a lefty athletic big. Newell fits right into the modern big man mold, with the ability to shoot and score as well as defend to a high degree. Exceptionally good in transition and physical on offense when driving, his game works well with Mike White’s scheme, as Georgia averaged more than 70 possessions a game on offense last year.
Newell should immediately slide into the four-spot in the starting rotation, and though there will be other options for the lineup if Newell isn’t ready (Abson at PF, Cyril at C, or Godfrey at PF, Abson at C) it is needed for this team to have a college-ready Asa Newell, as was advertised. I don’t have any doubt in that, as his game and talent should translate well, but there’s no denying that Georgia basketball is depending on this freshman to step up and create.
Key analytic: Opponent blocks per game
Despite shooting just 35.5 two-point attempts per game, good for 237th in D-1, Georgia still got their shots blocked often, with an average of 4.4 shots sent back per game. Only 26 teams were worse at not getting rejected. That could be a result of a high volume of inside shots from guards, big men not getting in proper position inside, or a litany of other reasons. A film study would be needed to find out, but regardless, the Bulldogs are leaving points on the board.
The SEC is a physical basketball conference, and each team needs to be physically ready for a grueling conference slate every year. That is in no way insinuating that Georgia is not physically capable of competing for a top spot in the conference this year. After all, they just grabbed Justin Abson from the portal, one of the best athletes available, and signed Asa Newell and Somto Cyril from the freshman class. Georgia is plenty physical, they just need to get to the basket strong and show it.
Georgia Basketball 2024-25 projections
Projected conference finish: 13th in the SEC
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Round of 64