Mar 7, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs guard Kenny Gaines (12) and Kentucky Wildcats guard Jarrod Polson (5). Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Coach Mark Fox and his Georgia basketball coaching staff put a cherry on top of this recruiting season’s spring signing period with the addition of 6’7” forward Cameron Forte of Tempe, Arizona.

“We are very excited to add someone of Cameron’s abilities to our program this spring,” Fox said.  “He’s a versatile player who has a real knack for scoring the basketball.  Those two things — his versatility and his scoring — should really help our team next season.”

Forte averaged a team-high 22.5 points this season for Howard, which went 30-7 and reached the quarterfinals of the NJCAA tournament in Hutchinson, Kan.  That average ranked fourth nationally among all Division I junior college players.  Forte also averaged 7.5 rebounds and shot 63 percent from the field during his only season with the Hawks.  Before the season Forte was ranked as the No. 33 junior college prospect in the country, by Jucorecruiting.com.  After the season he was named to the NJCAA All-Region V team.

As a senior at McClintock High School in Tempe, Arizona Forte averaged 36 points a game his senior year.

Forte originally committed to Billy Gillespie’s Texas Tech program in July 2011, but did not play and transferred to the Big Springs, Texas campus of Howard College, a junior college. There have been conflicting reports regarding Forte’s eligibility; Forte has three years of eligibility remaining.

Colorado State and Minnesota both heavily pursued the scoring machine from Tempe, but Forte decided a warmer climate would suit him best and called Coach Mark Fox today with the good news.

McClintock High head basketball coach Jase Coburn called Forte one the best scorers the state has ever seen. Along with his point plus per minute average his senior year, Forte set state records of most points in a game and season. In only 7 of his teams 20 games did Forte not score over half of his teams points. The McClintock High School Chargers were 30 – 13 Forte’s senior year and won the AAAA Arizona State Championship his junior year when Forte averaged 22 points a game. Forte had led the Arizona Magic Pump N’ Run AAU basketball team to an impressive 29-straight victories.

Georgia Bulldogs forward Nemanja Djurisic (42) will get help next year fro Cameron forte.  Kelly Lambert-USA TODAY Sports

Both of Forte’s parents played basketball collegiately. His father Larry played at New Mexico, and his mother Libby played at Arizona State.

Forte will join JJ Frazier of Glennville, Georgia, Kenny Paul Geno of Booneville, Mississippi, and Juwan Parker of Tulsa, Oklahoma in the University of Georgia 2012 -2013 signing class.

The day ended with a touch of irony as Coach Fox confirmed that Georgia assistant coach Kwanza Johnson has agreed to accept an assistant coaching position at Texas Christian.  Johnson had coached Juwan Parker’s older brother as part of the Tulsa University staff and has a strong relationship with Juwan Parker and his family. Parker will nevertheless join the Bulldogs this year.

Photo Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The Georgia Men’s Bulldog basketball team invites the nation’s most storied college basketball program into the Stegman Coliseum for Senior Night this Thursday. (7:00) It is difficult to underestimate the opportunity this game presents for Georgia seniors Sherrard Brantley John Florveus, and Vincent Williams. A senior night victory would leave Georgia on track to finish above .500 in the SEC and provide  the sweetest of memories for a lifetime.

Sherrard Brantley was part of the Dublin High 2009 School State Championship team and came to Georgia as a sophomore from Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Florida.  As a JUCO, Brantley earned a reputation sharp shooting from the three-point arc at a 43% rate. Once at Georgia, Sherrard settled in as a role player specializing in three point shooting.  His playing time decreased from his sophomore to his junior season (12.7 minutes a game to 9.9 minutes a game.) This season he has averaged over 18 minutes per game and started 4 times. His three point shooting average stands at .366 and he has made 31 assists during the season.

After starring at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers, Florida, John Florveus played two seasons at Hillsboro Community College in Tampa. In his first season At Hillsboro he ranked 24th nationally in blocked shots (2 per game). He improved from 4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game his freshman year to 8.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game his sophomore year.  After transferring to Georgia, the emphasis was on improving and contributing in games at occasional moments. This season, Florveus started 19 games and averaged over 17 minutes a game. While he averages only 2 points per game and has committed 31 turnovers, he is shooting over .500. Florveus plays well his role as a space eating big man well, providing the room required for Georgia’s young guards to score and rebound.

John Florveus defends Tennessee Volunteers forward Jarnell Stokes (32) Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Vincent Williams bloomed late in his high school career and came to Georgia after graduating from South Dade Senior High School (Dade County, FL) He immediately became a valuable back-up point guard. As a junior, Williams averaged 12.1 minutes per game and had 11 starts. This season he is averaging nearly 20 minutes per game and has 21 starts.  His quickness and jump shooting are an excellent counter punch to the physical play of freshman Charles Mann

As the Dogs approached Christmas, the possibility of a successful Southeastern Conference campaign appeared unlikely. It also appeared unlikely any of the three seniors would have a significant impact on the season. Coach Mark Fox then put the team in the hands of seniors Sherrard Brantley, John Florveus, and Vincent Williams – a decision that has dominated conversation among the Bulldog faithful.

Closing with victories against Kentucky and Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Saturday, 4:00) and a Conference Tournament surge leading to post season play would be a storybook ending for these seniors.  However, the most significant legacy may have been written – a senior class that did not quit competing, that did  not give up on the season, and that turned a season a-round. How big a turn a-round will depend a great deal on the performance of the senior Bulldogs after they carry away their framed jersey’s on Senior Night.