University of Georgia Athletics
Howard Blog: Fox Bringing In The Right Players
June 19, 2010 | General
June 19, 2010
Sure, it's only May. But on the heels of a season that excited the Georgia fanbase, Voice of the Dawgs Scott Howard explains why this excitement will continue into the 2010-11 campaign.
Like Mark Richt and his football staff, head men's basketball coach Mark Fox and his staff have a lot of talent to recruit within the state of Georgia. One of the top basketball prospects in the state, and certainly the best available in-state player during the spring signing period, announced last week that he will be a Georgia Bulldog. Marcus Thornton, a 6'7" forward, who originally signed with Clemson but was released from his letter of intent following the departure of former Tigers head coach Oliver Purnell, made his announcement last Wednesday. Thornton comes with excellent credentials--he was named "Mr. Basketball" in Georgia--and will be one of five new faces fans may have a chance to see this November when the Dogs crank up the season.
Fox and his coaching staff of Philip Pearson, Kwanza Johnson and Stacey Palmore have compiled a solid group of players, including three of whom have a home base in this state. Thornton, along with 6'9" Donte Williams, the Class 4-A Player of the Year from Lithonia and 6'2" guard Sherrard Brantley, who is transferring from junior college in Florida, but is from Dublin, all call the Peach State their home.
Florida's Class 4-A Player of the Year, 6'8" Cady Lalanne, from Orlando, Fla., will also join the group of newcomers. The fifth new face on the Dogs' roster is Gerald Robinson, the transfer guard from Tennessee State who sat out last season under NCAA transfer rules, but certainly made an impression on the coaching staff in practice and has already scored over 1,000 points in his 2 year career.
I'm eager to witness how this group will mix with what Georgia has returning, including All-SEC performer Trey Thompkins, the dynamic Travis Leslie and senior Jeremy Price, who has evolved into a good sixth-man for the Bulldogs. And it won't take long to test the waters. While next season's schedule is still being put together, we do know the Bulldogs will play in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando on Thanksgiving week. The 8-team field includes Wisconsin, Boston College, Temple, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, California and Manhattan. Each team will play 3 games in this holiday tournament.
Football season is approaching, but Georgia fans have reason to be jacked up for basketball season this year, too.
Go Dawgs!
