Mike White is establishing UGA as a threat in college basketball as they gain the commitment of 5-star Asa Newell. 

Newell is a 6'9" and 205-pound power forward for Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. He's rated as the 2nd PF in the class and the 8th overall player in the country. Newell's length is going to provide great dividends for UGA. I expect him to block a lot of shots in his career at Georgia. He's got great athleticism for his size and is a major lob threat. 

Newell committed to the Bulldogs over Alabama, Texas, and Gonzaga. He is the second highest rated player to ever commit to Georgia basketball. Anthony Edwards is first, with Newell behind him. He grew up in Athens, so he already had a love for UGA, but Mike White did an incredible job building his relationship with Newell over his recruitment. He visited UGA on September 23rd and was at the UAB vs Georgia game. Asa's older brother, Jaden, is already playing for the Bulldogs. Jaden walked on at UGA in 2022. 

Since Mike White arrived at Georgia, he's been making moves to turn UGA into a force in the college basketball landscape. In the 2023 recruiting cycle, Georgia finished with the 21st overall class. That class consisted of 4 players, 3 of which were top 100 players. Gaining the commitment of Newell was a big next step for Mike White and the Bulldog program. 

Newell is the first commitment in Georgia's 2024 recruiting class. However, look for this class to be added to with more elite players. Georgia is right in the mix with 5-star PF Khani Rooths and 4-star SF Derrion Reid. 

Georgia's season on the hardwood starts on November 6th, with a game against Oregon in Las Vegas. The Bulldogs are looking to improve on their 16-15 record that they posted in Mike White's first year at the helm. Stay tuned to DawgsCentral for all the coverage on the Hoop Dawgs.