Georgia Basketball Has Bulldog Country Buzzing
The Georgia basketball program introduced the 2015 freshman class Friday night and Bulldog Country is buzzing.
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Georgia basketball fans are flying high after last Friday’s un-official coming out party for the 2015 freshman class.
Against the lesser skills of Armstrong State, Mark Fox revealed the on court talents of 2015 freshman Will Jackson, E’Torrion Wilridge, Derek Ogbeide and Mike Edwards. For the Georgia basketball community – more of a small town compared to the Georgia football metropolis – it was gas on a fire.
Four star recruit post player Ogbeide is the known quantity in the class. Athletic with a body built to command space in the paint and defend the rim, the Stegeman Coliseum buzzed with Ogbeide’s entrance into the exhibition game against Armstrong State.
Soon after, Jackson brought the faithful to their feet with a steal and a slam. While the competition was slight, Jackson displayed point guard skill on offense and a disruptive skill on defense.
While Athens locals whisper Jackson is the best basketball player to come out of Clarke County, his national ranking faded after his junior year as he suffered through the fits and starts of difficult injury rehabilitation. Jackson began his senior year as a UConn pledge before flipping to Georgia. Did UConn’s interest wane? Did personal tragedy influence Jackson? Did he simply wise up? It’s all academic now and Georgia basketball is the better for his decision.
To observers of the Georgia club and scholastic basketball scene, Ogbeide and Jackson are well known. Wilridge and Edwards are unknowns.
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Wilridge sustained the most untimely of injuries in the last game of his junior year. At the time a national 100 player, Wilridge tried to come back from his injury and compete in the summer. The result was poor play and Wilridge’s stock dropped like rock. But Georgia and Assistant Coach Jonas Hayes never let up on the player from Beaumont, Texas, and when Wilridge recovered to his former self, he and his family had fallen head over heels for Athens and the University of Georgia.
Wilridge brought obvious size to the court against Armstrong State. He then brought a thrill to the fans with a three point make and a drive culminating with an under and up reverse slam reminiscent of Dominique Wilkins.
Edwards is Georgia least heralded freshman, not registering in the national rankings. But the big man blossomed late in high school and Georgia out recruited other late suitors that included Missouri and Pitt for Edwards’ signature.
With only a few workout videos and some game highlights against lesser competition to judge, the Georgia fans were hopeful Edwards could contribute this year. After his play Friday, Georgia fans are driving, pushing, and pulling the Mike Edwards bandwagon.
Edwards showed off a plethora of post weapons. His passionate play notwithstanding, there is almost no way Edwards meets the new expectations. But he doesn’t have to for Georgia to be successful this season.
A remarkable turn of events has Georgia basketball fans riding high. The 2015 recruiting cycle began with Georgia fans in the dumps after Will Jackson spurned the hometown Bulldogs and coveted guard Malik Beasley of St. Francis High School in Alpharetta refused a free ride to Athens. But it’s been all red roses since.
Less than two weeks after Beasley committed to FSU, Georgia gained the commitment of elite guards and buddies Tyree Crump and Jordan Harris for 2016. The pair signed their letter of intent Wednesday. Jackson then swung back to the Dawgs and Wilridge and Ogbeide came on board for 2015. The spring signing of Williams appears to be the second consecutive spring signing coup for Mark Fox after Yante Maten signed in spring of 2014.
The talent upgrade is apparent. The roster holds no more shrimpy guards – aside from the beloved JJ Frazier – and post talent runs deeper, though younger, than before warhorses Marcus Thornton and Nemi Djursic departed. Fans are excited, students demonstrated a connection to the team not seen in a decade, and the home schedule packs a wallop.
Will the Dawgs win 20 games? Unknown, but the Stegeman Coliseum could be rocking from November to March.