University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: RJ Godfrey
February 13, 2025 | Men's Basketball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
RJ Godfrey, as you might expect, would like to play professional basketball for a long time once his Georgia career is over. And when he's done playing, as you might also expect, he's interested in going into coaching. What may surprise you is what the 21-year-old might like to do outside of basketball: pro fisherman.
The image of the 6-foot-8 junior forward standing in a bass boat reeling in a lunker brings a smile. As does chatting with the Suwanee, Ga., native, the son of former Georgia star linebacker Randall Godfrey. While his dad earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 1992 and was twice All-SEC before going on to a long NFL career, Godfrey took a different path. He not only chose a different sport, he also spent his first two years of college at Clemson before becoming a Bulldog.
Through his first 25 games at Georgia, Godfrey had started every one and averaged 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds a game — he lit up the scoreboard with 21 points and 11 rebounds in 24 minutes against North Florida. During a recent Quick Chat, Godfrey talked about learning from his dad, his first dunk, his love of fishing, and more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Were there any epic 1-on-1 battles in the driveway at your house growing up?
Godfrey: My brother (Grant, a linebacker at Kentucky) and I would always play 1-on-1 in the driveway, and I think I played 1-on-1 with my dad probably up until ninth grade. The first time I beat my dad, he stopped playing — but he taught me a lot of my post moves. The reason my post game is the way it is now is because of him.
Frierson: What other sports did you play growing up?
Godfrey: I played every sport, I think, but my favorite was football. Even though my team was terrible when I was a kid, I used to be the best running back in the league. Football was my thing for a minute, I made the all-star team for baseball for two seasons, and I played soccer up until third or fourth grade.
I regret not playing football with my brother in high school, but because of injuries, I didn't want to risk anything with basketball.
Frierson: You're wearing a Lakers shirt today, less than 48 hours after the mega-trade that sent Luka Dončić from the Mavericks to L.A. for Anthony Davis and some other guys. What was the reaction to the trade among the guys on the team?
Godfrey: I remember it was Justin Abson who first texted everyone about it right after the main guy (NBA news breaker Shams Charania) put out the information. I remember I said: "Fake!" Everyone thought it was fake. ... Five minutes later, ESPN puts it out, and we just stopped. I still didn't think it was real; like, why would they trade Luka, and why would they trade A.D.?
The reaction is something I'll never forget. I was playing Minecraft — I play Minecraft every night with my hometown friends and some other guys — and when they ask that question, Where were you when this happened? I think this is one of those moments. It was a pretty cool moment — wild.
Frierson: Do you remember your first dunk?
Godfrey: I think it was going into my ninth-grade year. We have a hoop outside that I still get a ton of shots up on every time I go home. And that was where I did my first dunk. I had been working out, squatting and doing my weights, and I went up there and grabbed the rim. I was surprised at how high I was jumping.
I missed the first dunk, but I got it with the second try. I remember calling my dad and going, "Dad, get out there right now! I just dunked!" He came out and took a video of me dunking, and I still have that video of me dunking and my dad going crazy behind the phone. It's a pretty cool moment.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Godfrey: I'll be 31, and hopefully I'll still be playing basketball. But after my career is over, I definitely want to get into coaching — or be a professional fisherman.
Frierson: OK, there's a lot to explore there. Starting with the obvious: a professional fisherman?
Godfrey: I'm a pretty good fisherman for someone that's not professional. During the season, I can't really get out and do much fishing, but in the spring and summer, when the season's over, I'm out every day, every day, for 4-8 hours. Really, I'm addicted to fishing. It's like my second love.
Frierson: What is keeping you interested and excited enough to be out there for hours?
Godfrey: I think it goes back to childhood and parenting. I have photos of me holding up these giant rainbow trout when I was 3 or 4 years old. My dad fishes a lot, he takes trips to Orange Beach or Seattle every year to catch these crazy fish, and growing up, he set the foundation for my love of fishing.
I also really like being out there under the sky, in the wilderness. I don't want to say it's a drug, but the feeling is so good. I don't want to be inside playing video games during the summer or when the weather is nice, I want to be out, taking in our wonderful world.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
RJ Godfrey, as you might expect, would like to play professional basketball for a long time once his Georgia career is over. And when he's done playing, as you might also expect, he's interested in going into coaching. What may surprise you is what the 21-year-old might like to do outside of basketball: pro fisherman.
The image of the 6-foot-8 junior forward standing in a bass boat reeling in a lunker brings a smile. As does chatting with the Suwanee, Ga., native, the son of former Georgia star linebacker Randall Godfrey. While his dad earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 1992 and was twice All-SEC before going on to a long NFL career, Godfrey took a different path. He not only chose a different sport, he also spent his first two years of college at Clemson before becoming a Bulldog.
Through his first 25 games at Georgia, Godfrey had started every one and averaged 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds a game — he lit up the scoreboard with 21 points and 11 rebounds in 24 minutes against North Florida. During a recent Quick Chat, Godfrey talked about learning from his dad, his first dunk, his love of fishing, and more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Were there any epic 1-on-1 battles in the driveway at your house growing up?
Godfrey: My brother (Grant, a linebacker at Kentucky) and I would always play 1-on-1 in the driveway, and I think I played 1-on-1 with my dad probably up until ninth grade. The first time I beat my dad, he stopped playing — but he taught me a lot of my post moves. The reason my post game is the way it is now is because of him.
Frierson: What other sports did you play growing up?
Godfrey: I played every sport, I think, but my favorite was football. Even though my team was terrible when I was a kid, I used to be the best running back in the league. Football was my thing for a minute, I made the all-star team for baseball for two seasons, and I played soccer up until third or fourth grade.
I regret not playing football with my brother in high school, but because of injuries, I didn't want to risk anything with basketball.
Frierson: You're wearing a Lakers shirt today, less than 48 hours after the mega-trade that sent Luka Dončić from the Mavericks to L.A. for Anthony Davis and some other guys. What was the reaction to the trade among the guys on the team?
Godfrey: I remember it was Justin Abson who first texted everyone about it right after the main guy (NBA news breaker Shams Charania) put out the information. I remember I said: "Fake!" Everyone thought it was fake. ... Five minutes later, ESPN puts it out, and we just stopped. I still didn't think it was real; like, why would they trade Luka, and why would they trade A.D.?
The reaction is something I'll never forget. I was playing Minecraft — I play Minecraft every night with my hometown friends and some other guys — and when they ask that question, Where were you when this happened? I think this is one of those moments. It was a pretty cool moment — wild.
Frierson: Do you remember your first dunk?
Godfrey: I think it was going into my ninth-grade year. We have a hoop outside that I still get a ton of shots up on every time I go home. And that was where I did my first dunk. I had been working out, squatting and doing my weights, and I went up there and grabbed the rim. I was surprised at how high I was jumping.
I missed the first dunk, but I got it with the second try. I remember calling my dad and going, "Dad, get out there right now! I just dunked!" He came out and took a video of me dunking, and I still have that video of me dunking and my dad going crazy behind the phone. It's a pretty cool moment.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Godfrey: I'll be 31, and hopefully I'll still be playing basketball. But after my career is over, I definitely want to get into coaching — or be a professional fisherman.
Frierson: OK, there's a lot to explore there. Starting with the obvious: a professional fisherman?
Godfrey: I'm a pretty good fisherman for someone that's not professional. During the season, I can't really get out and do much fishing, but in the spring and summer, when the season's over, I'm out every day, every day, for 4-8 hours. Really, I'm addicted to fishing. It's like my second love.
Frierson: What is keeping you interested and excited enough to be out there for hours?
Godfrey: I think it goes back to childhood and parenting. I have photos of me holding up these giant rainbow trout when I was 3 or 4 years old. My dad fishes a lot, he takes trips to Orange Beach or Seattle every year to catch these crazy fish, and growing up, he set the foundation for my love of fishing.
I also really like being out there under the sky, in the wilderness. I don't want to say it's a drug, but the feeling is so good. I don't want to be inside playing video games during the summer or when the weather is nice, I want to be out, taking in our wonderful world.
(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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