Not the size of the Dawg: The legacy of Georgia basketball star J.J. Frazier

Barring the possibility of Georgia Basketball playing an NIT game in Athens, J.J. Frazier may have played his last game in Athens Wednesday night.

I took my daughter to a Georgia basketball game a few years back and saw a Georgia kid playing that looked like he was maybe a few inches above 5 feet for the first time. As he dribbled circles around a defender for the first of many times that night, I heard a young kid behind me begin to chant, “J.J. FRAZIER!! J.J. FRAZIER!! J.J.FRAZIER!”

I noticed the connection this young man had with the fans. I noticed his speed, his agility, his shooting, his handles, but mainly his intensity. It was obvious that Frazier was on his way to becoming an all time great in Athens.

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As I watched him last night have yet another 30+ point performance against a conference foe in what may be his last game in Stegeman Coliseum, I saw the same intensity from three years ago. But he’s obviously matured. He’s a leader now.

It was awesome to see how he kept his teammates focused against Auburn and took that game over. He put that team on his small back last night. And he’s doing this on a consistent basis now without the help of his most talented teammate, Yante Maten, who is still out with an injury. Georgia doesn’t win that game last night without Frazier.

As hard as this is for me to believe after this roller coaster season, the Dawgs’ tournament chances are still alive. J.J. Frazier deserves most of the credit for that. He also deserves how he will undoubtedly be remembered in Athens; as one of the greatest basketball players to ever wear the red and black

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