Georgia lands potential program-changing recruit over Alabama, others

Georgia football is used to getting all kinds of big wins on the recruiting trail, but don't count out basketball coach Mike White.

Coming off an inaugural season with UGA that saw him go 16-16, White has landed a blue-chip prospect who could be a potential program-changer for the Bulldogs.

Asa Newell, a five-star power forward from Montverde Academy in Monteverde, Florida, has committed to the Bulldogs. 

UGA wins his commitment over Alabama, Gonzaga and Texas, so this is no small deal.

“They really are my day ones for real," Newell told 247Sports regarding the Bulldogs. 

"They do a lot of things great and I feel like I can play for a coach like Mike White. He’s such a positive guy, he’s a great person, a great human being on and off the court so there is a lot of positive with Georgia."

Success on the basketball court has been a long time coming for the Bulldogs. They last made the NCAA Tournament in 2014-15 and have only been to the Big Dance five times since 2000.

Yes, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards came from UGA, but he's been the lone bright spot from that program in a while. Speaking of Edwards, Newell is Georgia's first five-star commit since the 2020 NBA Draft's No. 1 overall pick.

The 247Sports composite ranks Newell as the No. 2 power forward in the country as well as the No. 8 hoops recruit overall.

"Georgia is hungry for a basketball team. I am coming to bring Georgia basketball back," he said.