One thing that is becoming abundantly clear, Georgia basketball in 2025 will look entirely different than it did in 2024.
In bittersweet news on Wednesday, Georgia dynamo freshman and leading scorer Asa Newell has declared for the NBA draft.
Thank you to all the Dawgs ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Uz1sWiaoBq
— Asa Newell (@NewellAsa) April 9, 2025
Of the many revelations to transpire in the Bulldog's offseason thus far, this was the most anticipated because of Newell’s tremendous season.
Leading the charge
In his one season at Georgia, Newell led Georgia to a 20-13 record. He was named to the SEC's All-Freshman team after averaging 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. A four-time SEC Freshman of the Week recipient, Newell led the Bulldogs back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015.
"I’d just say the college experience was amazing," Newell said following Georgia’s season-ending loss to Gonzaga. “Wearing the G on my chest, it’s something I’ll never take for granted. I’m just so blessed to have teammates and a wonderful coach, Coach White, helping me through the process. And I’ll just take it all in.”
2025 Bulldogs will look different
When you add in the loss of contributing seniors Dakota Leffew and Tyrin Lawrence, Newell becomes the seventh member from the 2024 team that will not be returning to Georgia since their first round elimination in the NCAA tournament.
Bulldog Nation is still waiting on the final word from big man Somto Cyril as to whether or not he intends to return to Georgia.
Moving forward
The news has not been all bad for Georgia basketball as guard Blue Cain and forward Dylan James both announced on Wednesday that they would be returning to Georgia for another season.
Mike White will certainly have his work cut out for him having to replace the immense amount of talent and experience that has left his program in recent weeks. It is White's intention to be even more active in the transfer portal to maintain the standard he has now set for Georgia.
“We’ve just got to continue to recruit high-level players and high-level people, protect our culture every day, continue to get better, continue to develop people and develop players offensively and defensively,“ White said following the loss to Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament. ”I think we generated some excitement this year with our recruiting base. We’ve got a lot to sell at the University of Georgia. We’ll continue to sign guys like these two guys, and we’ll build off of this.”
Part of that build has already begun. Last week, Georgia landed Cal transfer guard Jeremiah Wilkinson out of the transfer portal. The 6-1 Wilkinson, a Georgia native from Powder Springs, averaged 15.4 points 1.5 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game last season as a freshman for the Golden Bears. Amongst his many accolades, Wilkinson was awarded the ACC's Sixth Man of the Year.