University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Dakota Leffew
February 03, 2025 | Men's Basketball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
When Dakota Leffew speaks, you have to listen closely. The Georgia men's basketball guard speaks softly and can be a young man of few words, but on the court, his game speaks for itself.
A graduate transfer who joined the Bulldogs this season after four years at Mount St. Mary's, Leffew started 63 games for the Mountaineers and scored more than 1,100 points. Through his 22 games with the Bulldogs, Leffew has been a reliable scorer throughout the season. Heading into Wednesday night's game against LSU at Stegeman Coliseum, Leffew was averaging 10.9 points per game, third most on the team, and his 43 3-pointers are 15 more than anyone else on the squad.
The 6-foot-5 Leffew, from Jonesboro, Ga., graduated from Mount St. Mary's and transferred to Georgia for his final season. He said he wanted to be close to home for his final go-round in college. He also brought with him another new contributor, Mount St. Mary's teammate De'Shayne Montgomery, who was the MAAC Rookie of the Year as a freshman last season. Both have settled in well with their new team.
During a recent Quick Chat, Leffew talked about his first dunk, playing abroad, his funniest teammate, and more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What do you remember about your first dunk?
Leffew: My first dunk came kind of late, when I was in high school. I think I was 17.
It happened in a game, and I remember it felt really good.
Frierson: Do you have a favorite moment ever on a basketball court? Is there one moment that stands out above the rest from your career so far?
Leffew: I think it would have to be playing in the Czech Republic (Czechia). To have to chance to go to there for a week for a tournament with The Skills Factory (in Atlanta).
Frierson: What was it like to get to chance to cross an ocean to play basketball?
Leffew: It was very different, of course. The food was very different, the culture was different — everything. It was interesting.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team?
Leffew: I would have to go with Tyrin (Lawrence). He's just funny. You can never predict what he's going to say, but it's probably going to be funny.
Frierson: Do you have a favorite player right now? Is there someone you'll always stop and watch if you see them on the TV?
Leffew: I've been watching a lot of (Phoenix Suns star guard) Devin Booker.
Frierson: I saw where he's got a new shoe out with Nike.
Leffew: I've been wearing them a lot. I've got like five pairs of them.
Frierson: That brings up an interesting question that I don't think I've asked a player before. Given the almost endless variety of shoes that Nike makes, how do you pick the ones that you wear?
Leffew: It's based on how they look and feel.
Frierson: Do you ever have a pair that you like the looks of so much that you don't want to wear them out on the basketball court?
Leffew: Nah, if I have a pair of basketball shoes that I like, I'm going to play in them.
Frierson: Was basketball your only real sport when you were younger, or did you play a lot of different sports before focusing on basketball?
Leffew: I played baseball and I played a little football, but I never really played those outside of things like Little League. I was always better at basketball and it was always my favorite.
Frierson: What brought you to Georgia after four years at Mount St. Mary's?
Leffew: It was back home for me, it's the SEC, and I could see that the culture was changing here. The program's getting better every year and I feel like it's going to keep on building.
Frierson: What is something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Leffew: It would have to be Chick-fil-A.
Frierson: That's a popular answer. Do you get the same thing every time you go?
Leffew: I pretty much get the chicken sandwich every time.
Frierson: Is there anything creative you do or wish you could do, whether it's music or art or whatever?
Leffew: Not really, but I wish I could play the piano.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Leffew: I hopefully am still playing basketball. If not, I want to be a basketball coach.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
When Dakota Leffew speaks, you have to listen closely. The Georgia men's basketball guard speaks softly and can be a young man of few words, but on the court, his game speaks for itself.
A graduate transfer who joined the Bulldogs this season after four years at Mount St. Mary's, Leffew started 63 games for the Mountaineers and scored more than 1,100 points. Through his 22 games with the Bulldogs, Leffew has been a reliable scorer throughout the season. Heading into Wednesday night's game against LSU at Stegeman Coliseum, Leffew was averaging 10.9 points per game, third most on the team, and his 43 3-pointers are 15 more than anyone else on the squad.
The 6-foot-5 Leffew, from Jonesboro, Ga., graduated from Mount St. Mary's and transferred to Georgia for his final season. He said he wanted to be close to home for his final go-round in college. He also brought with him another new contributor, Mount St. Mary's teammate De'Shayne Montgomery, who was the MAAC Rookie of the Year as a freshman last season. Both have settled in well with their new team.
During a recent Quick Chat, Leffew talked about his first dunk, playing abroad, his funniest teammate, and more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What do you remember about your first dunk?
Leffew: My first dunk came kind of late, when I was in high school. I think I was 17.
It happened in a game, and I remember it felt really good.
Frierson: Do you have a favorite moment ever on a basketball court? Is there one moment that stands out above the rest from your career so far?
Leffew: I think it would have to be playing in the Czech Republic (Czechia). To have to chance to go to there for a week for a tournament with The Skills Factory (in Atlanta).
Frierson: What was it like to get to chance to cross an ocean to play basketball?
Leffew: It was very different, of course. The food was very different, the culture was different — everything. It was interesting.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team?
Leffew: I would have to go with Tyrin (Lawrence). He's just funny. You can never predict what he's going to say, but it's probably going to be funny.
Frierson: Do you have a favorite player right now? Is there someone you'll always stop and watch if you see them on the TV?
Leffew: I've been watching a lot of (Phoenix Suns star guard) Devin Booker.
Frierson: I saw where he's got a new shoe out with Nike.
Leffew: I've been wearing them a lot. I've got like five pairs of them.
Frierson: That brings up an interesting question that I don't think I've asked a player before. Given the almost endless variety of shoes that Nike makes, how do you pick the ones that you wear?
Leffew: It's based on how they look and feel.
Frierson: Do you ever have a pair that you like the looks of so much that you don't want to wear them out on the basketball court?
Leffew: Nah, if I have a pair of basketball shoes that I like, I'm going to play in them.
Frierson: Was basketball your only real sport when you were younger, or did you play a lot of different sports before focusing on basketball?
Leffew: I played baseball and I played a little football, but I never really played those outside of things like Little League. I was always better at basketball and it was always my favorite.
Frierson: What brought you to Georgia after four years at Mount St. Mary's?
Leffew: It was back home for me, it's the SEC, and I could see that the culture was changing here. The program's getting better every year and I feel like it's going to keep on building.
Frierson: What is something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Leffew: It would have to be Chick-fil-A.
Frierson: That's a popular answer. Do you get the same thing every time you go?
Leffew: I pretty much get the chicken sandwich every time.
Frierson: Is there anything creative you do or wish you could do, whether it's music or art or whatever?
Leffew: Not really, but I wish I could play the piano.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Leffew: I hopefully am still playing basketball. If not, I want to be a basketball coach.
(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.
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