When you think of the Georgia Bulldogs, almost everyone's mind immediately goes to an 8-2 football team that features quite a few NFL prospects and is competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
That has been the case in each of the past four seasons, with the Bulldogs' basketball team lacking consistency, hovering around .500 each year while consistently struggling in SEC play.
However, there may be something important to cheer for in Athens for the first time in five years. Well, really someone.
Five-star forward Asa Newell, No. 11 in the Class of 2024 and the third-highest recruit in Georgia history behind Anthony Edwards and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who went on to great success in the NBA. Introducing.
Newell committed to Georgia more than a year ago, with his recruitment closing in August 2023, and became the face of the program almost immediately after arriving on campus.
The Bulldogs started the season 4-0, including a 77-69 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, with Newell averaging 16.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game as the team's leading scorer. He also got the role. He shot 53.6 percent from the field, leading the team in minutes.
Asa Newell's defensive versatility, ground coverage and rim-protecting feel have been a consistent force since the beginning of this season. Whether it's on the help side, PnR, or just an effort play.
Georgia's freshman forward had 10 blocks through three games. pic.twitter.com/YIZ4kvSzzm
— Keandre Ashley (@HoopIntellect) November 13, 2024
Newell scored 26 points in his debut, tying Dominique Wilkins' freshman record, helping his team to an 83-78 victory over Tennessee Tech. Since then, he has scored at least 13 points in every game and shot over 50 percent from the field.
His early performance earned him SEC Freshman of the Week honors last week thanks to strong two-way play as he blocked at least three shots in three of the team's four games.
“He's exactly the right person.” Head coach Mike White said after Newell scored 26 points in the season opener.. “He will come to the gym tomorrow morning and train on his own. He will be there on his day off tomorrow. He will beg [graduate assistants] I'm going to the gym to train him. That's him. In the summer we had to kick him out of the gym.
“He understands that he understands that. He knows that we weren't at our best defensively. He was great, but he took some of that to himself. Generally speaking, I don't think he made as many defensive mistakes as he did overall, grabbing six offensive rebounds in the defensive passing lanes. He changed his shots. He's mature beyond his years. He's a responsible player.”
Newell's quick adjustment to the college level gives Georgia the most talented freshman class since 2019, when Anthony Edwards was there. However, there was a disparity between the teams surrounding the freshman, and Edwards was the top player in the country at the time, even though he could only lead the Bulldogs to a 16-16 record.
Following Newell, the Bulldogs hope to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015. They made their first postseason appearance since 2017, when they earned an invitation to the NIT, and advanced to the semifinals.
Now, they return sophomores Cyrus Demarie Jr. and Blue Cain as returning starters, with the remaining key rotation pieces either transfers or freshmen. Can Newell be the missing piece that gets Georgia back to the dance? Time will tell.
