Georgia basketball: Who is center Dylan Cardwell, and why do the Bulldogs need him

Head coach Tom Crean has improved Georgia basketball recruiting after two seasons, but he hasn’t yet signed a center with obvious star power.

Georgia basketball has a great group of guards and forwards thanks to the recruiting of head coach Tom Crean. But he’s yet to bring in a center with obvious potential and it has put a ceiling on Georgia’s potential.

That could change with the 2020 recruiting class if Georgia basketball receives the signature of McEachern’s Dylan Cardwell. Georgia needs someone of Cardwell’s size and potential, especially with Rodney Howard reportedly transferring.

Throughout January and February, Georgia lost a lot. The Bulldogs lost 10 of their first 12 SEC games and eventually finished the regular season 5-13 in SEC play. The main catalyst for those losses were mismatches against Georgia in the low post.

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Rayshaun Hammonds had to leave his natural position of power forward and play center, and the rest of the roster shuffled accordingly. Georgia’s lack of size turned a possible NCAA Tournament team into a team scrapping to make the National Invitational Tournament.

It’s clear that Crean and the Georgia basketball coaches need to do a better job recruiting low post players. All of the elite centers in the 2020 class are already scooped up, including Walker Kessler, whose father, uncle and brother all played at Georgia. The best unsigned center in the area is Kai Sotto, who moved recently to Atlanta from the Philippines, but Georgia was possibly late to the party in his recruitment.

That leaves Dylan Cardwell as Georgia’s best chance of signing a solid low post player in the 2020 class. Just because Georgia missed out on other great centers, that does not make Cardwell a consolation prize. He’s a solid player in his own right, ranked No. 160 in the 247Sports Composite with several offers from sold programs.

Who is Dylan Cardwell? Will Georgia pay for signing him instead of a more elite center? And can the Bulldogs even sign him?

Sleeping, low-post giant

Cardwell stands at 6-10 and would be the tallest player on the Georgia basketball team if he signed. At 220 lbs., he wouldn’t be the heaviest Bulldog and he would need to add some size, but his lean frame translates perfectly to Crean’s fast-paced style.

One thing that’s clear from Cardwell’s highlights is that he hates giving up points, and he loves being the man to prevent them. Cardwell uses his 6-10 frame with his long arms to block shots and he’s not opposed to getting physical with any ball handler. Sometimes that leads to fouls and that’s an area of his game that needs refinement, but what’s not to love about his defensive play?

On offense, he’s best described as a clean-up man. Cardwell is always looking for offensive rebounds and put-back opportunities. If that part of his game translates to college ball, the sky is the limit for him as a college player. Most importantly on offense, Cardwell has great foot-work in the low-post with and without the ball. He can get open for passes down low, or maneuver around defenders to create high-percentage shots.

What stands out the most about Cardwell’s game is his energy and passion that spreads throughout his team. His yells and gestures might rub some people the wrong way, but it’s a sign that he really cares about doing well on the court. Cardwell gets fired up when he makes a big play, and in highlights, you can see him fire his teammates up as well.

Can Georgia sign Cardwell

Tom Crean and the Georgia basketball team needs Dylan Cardwell. That’s the reality of this team going into the 2020-21 season, it doesn’t have a center. It has Rayshaun Hammonds and others playing out of position in the low post. Cardwell can balance the team.

Players like Cardwell see where they are needed and they know “need” can equal early playing time. In this case, desperation is Georgia’s biggest advantage in its recruitment of Cardwell. Crean needs to, and probably has, made that known to Cardwell.