J.J. Frazier is settling in as one of the premier playmakers on the Georgia basketball team after finding success early in the 2015-2016 season.
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At 5’10’’, 155 pounds, J.J. Frazier does not jump out to scouts. He probably faced many conversations with coaches telling him that he was not big enough or physical enough to play at the college level. Just like every other underdog story, he took that advice with a grain of salt and motivated himself to prove the doubters wrong.
Frazier found early success his freshman season coming off the bench as a role player. He was that fiery, defensive minded, hustle guy that the Bulldogs relied on in certain situations to grab a steal or make a solid assist. He played a few minutes here and there to spark the team before bringing the starters back into the game.
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Little did Georgia know that this young man would become one of their best options going forward.
Frazier saw significant playing time last season, his sophomore year, seeing his minutes jump from 10.6 to 29.5 per game from the season before. He was one of the catalysts throughout the season averaging 9.5 points per contest, but when it came down to crunch time he faded. In the 2015 SEC tournament he totaled just 14 points in two games, and then put up a goose egg in the NCAA tournament matchup against Michigan State.
His performance in last season’s postseason turned out to be just another opportunity for Frazier to change the narrative and work harder.
With high expectations for the team heading into the 2015-2016 campaign, Georgia knew they had elite players in seniors Charles Mann and Kenny Gaines. They also were excited about sophomore Yante Maten who was prepared to become a starter after the graduation of their two big men. With regards to Frazier, they hoped he would finally be ready to lead the charge at the point guard position. Not that there was any doubt in him, but they were a little unsure that he was ready.
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Fast forward to the present. They Dawgs are 5-3 and are finally shaping into a solid team after returning to full health. That is in large part due to the outstanding play of Frazier.
The junior guard has blossomed this season, leaving any doubt of his ability in the dust. He is second on the team in points per game with 16 and leads the team in free throw percentage (86 percent). He has totaled double digit points in six of the team’s eight games but no performance was bigger than what he did Saturday afternoon against Georgia Tech.
Frazier recorded a game-high 35 points on 9/14 shooting, including six three-pointers in a 75-61 victory over the Bulldogs’ in-state rival. The undersized player out of Glennville, Georgia once again proved he could play with the big boys.
At times last season he looked overmatched, but this season he continues to provide that spark he showed his freshman year. For a team that once thought they needed to rely heavily on their proven stars, it is clear now that Frazier may be the key to their future success.
As is the story every season, SEC play will tell whether Georgia is finally worthy of elite status in the conference. The positives about this season as it relates to seasons in recent memory, the Bulldogs have more experienced starters and a great, young bench. The passion that Frazier plays with and is exuding this season sets the benchmark for the young guys on the roster.
The Bulldogs have the opportunity to make a huge splash in the SEC and receive a solid seed heading into the NCAA Tournament. The focus will be on Frazier’s ability to lead. If his early season success is any notion of what is to come, then the Dawgs seem to be heading into territory they have not been to in many years.