University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Justin Hill
March 04, 2024 | Men's Basketball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
When Georgia men's basketball senior Justin Hill takes the court, you know things are about to start happening. The 6-foot guard, often the first one in off the bench, always brings the energy, playing an aggressive and attacking style that's exciting and effective.
After 29 games, Hill, from Houston, Texas, is fifth on the team in scoring with 8.8 points per game — Georgia's third- and fifth-leading scorers are separated by a point — and his 98 assists this season are 26 more than anyone else. He's a man of action, and he gets things done.
Hill, in his second season with the Bulldogs after starting his career at Longwood, is from a family of basketball players. His mother, Donna, was an All-American at Virginia, has her number retired and even made the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team. His father, Keith, no slouch himself, was an All-Big West player at New Mexico State. In addition, Hill's older brother, Cameron, was an NAIA All-American at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, while younger brother Ryan is playing junior college ball at the University of Arkansas-Cossatot.
During a recent Quick Chat, Hill talked about having some competition for being the funniest guy on the team, his hoops-heavy family, and more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: You were the runaway winner last season when I asked your teammates during these interviews to name the funniest guy on the team. But this year you've got some serious competition with Jalen DeLoach. How do you feel about that?
Hill: [Laughs] J.J. (DeLoach's nickname), yeah, he's pretty funny. I'd say he's got me beat, you know.
Frierson: Are you just being generous at this point? Are you feeling a little wounded inside at hearing that?
Hill: [Laughs] I say he's the funniest. I say he's got me beat.
Frierson: Given you've played with so many different guys in your career, from your time at Longwood to here, have you learned to get to know people really quickly? Or does it just come naturally when you're surrounded by guys with similar interests?
Hill: I would think so. As a point guard, you've got to know your teammates very well. I think I just naturally get to know them and we just naturally start clicking. Everybody's kind of on the same page, going through the same stuff. I don't think it's that hard to click with new teammates.
Frierson: Whether it's college or the NBA, is there someone you're watching play a lot these days that really has your attention?
Hill: Maybe teams, maybe college teams, but I wouldn't say there were specific people that I'm watching a lot. I watched Miami vs. North Carolina (on Feb. 10 — UNC won 75-72), and that was a crazy game because of the effort and the shot-making, and the defense was pretty good. It was fun to watch.
Frierson: Are you someone that can't get enough of basketball? Are you always going to watch whatever's on, or do you need to get away from it sometimes?
Hill: I have to get away every once in a while. I'll go a long time with straight college basketball, but sometimes I have to watch Netflix or something.
Frierson: Given how much you travel, what is the key to being able to stay on top of school and everything else you have to do while being on the road?
Hill: It's just knowing what you have to do and just doing it. It's about getting it done on time and doing it to your best ability.
Frierson: Coming from the basketball family that you do, is the game a constant topic of conversation among family members?
Hill: Yeah. Most likely, yeah. We talk a lot of basketball. There's a lot of stuff going on in the basketball world, so it's hard not to talk about it.
Frierson: Are you all super competitive with each other?
Hill: No, not anymore. When I was younger, yeah. Now, we just talk about ways to get better and stuff. We look at other players and what people can take from them.
Frierson: I know your mom was an all-time great at Virginia. Would she school you and your brothers every once in a while?
Hill: We'd be out there playing 2-on-2 and stuff like that. Her and one of my brothers against me and my brother or one of my friends.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Hill: Ten years? I'll be 32, and hopefully I'll still be playing basketball.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
When Georgia men's basketball senior Justin Hill takes the court, you know things are about to start happening. The 6-foot guard, often the first one in off the bench, always brings the energy, playing an aggressive and attacking style that's exciting and effective.
After 29 games, Hill, from Houston, Texas, is fifth on the team in scoring with 8.8 points per game — Georgia's third- and fifth-leading scorers are separated by a point — and his 98 assists this season are 26 more than anyone else. He's a man of action, and he gets things done.
Hill, in his second season with the Bulldogs after starting his career at Longwood, is from a family of basketball players. His mother, Donna, was an All-American at Virginia, has her number retired and even made the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team. His father, Keith, no slouch himself, was an All-Big West player at New Mexico State. In addition, Hill's older brother, Cameron, was an NAIA All-American at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, while younger brother Ryan is playing junior college ball at the University of Arkansas-Cossatot.
During a recent Quick Chat, Hill talked about having some competition for being the funniest guy on the team, his hoops-heavy family, and more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: You were the runaway winner last season when I asked your teammates during these interviews to name the funniest guy on the team. But this year you've got some serious competition with Jalen DeLoach. How do you feel about that?
Hill: [Laughs] J.J. (DeLoach's nickname), yeah, he's pretty funny. I'd say he's got me beat, you know.
Frierson: Are you just being generous at this point? Are you feeling a little wounded inside at hearing that?
Hill: [Laughs] I say he's the funniest. I say he's got me beat.
Frierson: Given you've played with so many different guys in your career, from your time at Longwood to here, have you learned to get to know people really quickly? Or does it just come naturally when you're surrounded by guys with similar interests?
Hill: I would think so. As a point guard, you've got to know your teammates very well. I think I just naturally get to know them and we just naturally start clicking. Everybody's kind of on the same page, going through the same stuff. I don't think it's that hard to click with new teammates.
Frierson: Whether it's college or the NBA, is there someone you're watching play a lot these days that really has your attention?
Hill: Maybe teams, maybe college teams, but I wouldn't say there were specific people that I'm watching a lot. I watched Miami vs. North Carolina (on Feb. 10 — UNC won 75-72), and that was a crazy game because of the effort and the shot-making, and the defense was pretty good. It was fun to watch.
Frierson: Are you someone that can't get enough of basketball? Are you always going to watch whatever's on, or do you need to get away from it sometimes?
Hill: I have to get away every once in a while. I'll go a long time with straight college basketball, but sometimes I have to watch Netflix or something.
Frierson: Given how much you travel, what is the key to being able to stay on top of school and everything else you have to do while being on the road?
Hill: It's just knowing what you have to do and just doing it. It's about getting it done on time and doing it to your best ability.
Frierson: Coming from the basketball family that you do, is the game a constant topic of conversation among family members?
Hill: Yeah. Most likely, yeah. We talk a lot of basketball. There's a lot of stuff going on in the basketball world, so it's hard not to talk about it.
Frierson: Are you all super competitive with each other?
Hill: No, not anymore. When I was younger, yeah. Now, we just talk about ways to get better and stuff. We look at other players and what people can take from them.
Frierson: I know your mom was an all-time great at Virginia. Would she school you and your brothers every once in a while?
Hill: We'd be out there playing 2-on-2 and stuff like that. Her and one of my brothers against me and my brother or one of my friends.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Hill: Ten years? I'll be 32, and hopefully I'll still be playing basketball.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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