University of Georgia Athletics
White, Newell Tabbed State Coach & Player Of The Year
March 28, 2025 | Men's Basketball
First UGA duo to sweep Tipoff Club awards since 2011
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia's Mike White and Asa Newell have been selected as the State of Georgia's College Coach and Player of the Year for men's basketball by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, the organization announced on Friday.
White and Newell helped led the Bulldogs to a record-setting season during the 2024-25 campaign, culminating with Georgia's first NCAA Tournament bid in a decade. They are the first Georgia duo to sweep the Tipoff Club's state awards since 2011.
White led the Bulldogs to their second-straight 20-win season, just the fifth time in program history that Georgia has reached the 20-victory plateau in back-to-back years. The Bulldogs opened the season with a 12-1 record, their best beginning since 1931, and climbed into the top-25 for the first time since 2011. Georgia finished 20-13 despite facing one of the nation's most challenging schedules. The Bulldogs played a nation-leading eight regular-season games against AP top-10 teams and more than 60 percent of their outings – 20 of 33 – were versus teams that received NCAA Tournament bids. Within that list, the Bulldogs notched victories over teams seeded No. 1 (Florida), No. 2 (St. John's) and No. 3 (Kentucky).
Newell became the first freshman to lead Georgia in scoring and rebounding in 27 seasons, since Jumaine Jones did so in 1997-98. Newell averaged 15.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He also paced the Bulldogs in double-figure scoring performances (30), double-digit rebounding efforts (seven), 20-point outings (six) and double-doubles (seven). Newell was named to the SEC's All-Freshman team, was tabbed first-team All-South Atlantic District by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and was selected as one of the top-10 candidates for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as the nation's top center. He also was honored as the SEC's Freshman of the Week four times, matching Anthony Edwards' record for most FOTW certificates by a Bulldog.
White is the fifth Georgia coach named as the state's Coach of the Year, joining Hugh Durham in 1984 and 1987, Tubby Smith in 1997, Jim Harrick in 2002 and Mark Fox in 2011. Ten Bulldogs have been named Player of the Year by the Tipoff Club a combined 12 times – Vern Fleming in 1984, Jones in 1999, Jarvis Hayes in 2002 and 2003, Rashad Wright in 2004, Trey Thompkins in 2011, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in 2013, J.J Frazier in 2016 and 2017, Yante Maten in 2018, Edwards in 2020 and Newell in 2025.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike's, MOLECULE, Sharpie and Werner Ladder. For more information, visit www.naismithtrophy.com.
White and Newell helped led the Bulldogs to a record-setting season during the 2024-25 campaign, culminating with Georgia's first NCAA Tournament bid in a decade. They are the first Georgia duo to sweep the Tipoff Club's state awards since 2011.
White led the Bulldogs to their second-straight 20-win season, just the fifth time in program history that Georgia has reached the 20-victory plateau in back-to-back years. The Bulldogs opened the season with a 12-1 record, their best beginning since 1931, and climbed into the top-25 for the first time since 2011. Georgia finished 20-13 despite facing one of the nation's most challenging schedules. The Bulldogs played a nation-leading eight regular-season games against AP top-10 teams and more than 60 percent of their outings – 20 of 33 – were versus teams that received NCAA Tournament bids. Within that list, the Bulldogs notched victories over teams seeded No. 1 (Florida), No. 2 (St. John's) and No. 3 (Kentucky).
Newell became the first freshman to lead Georgia in scoring and rebounding in 27 seasons, since Jumaine Jones did so in 1997-98. Newell averaged 15.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He also paced the Bulldogs in double-figure scoring performances (30), double-digit rebounding efforts (seven), 20-point outings (six) and double-doubles (seven). Newell was named to the SEC's All-Freshman team, was tabbed first-team All-South Atlantic District by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and was selected as one of the top-10 candidates for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as the nation's top center. He also was honored as the SEC's Freshman of the Week four times, matching Anthony Edwards' record for most FOTW certificates by a Bulldog.
White is the fifth Georgia coach named as the state's Coach of the Year, joining Hugh Durham in 1984 and 1987, Tubby Smith in 1997, Jim Harrick in 2002 and Mark Fox in 2011. Ten Bulldogs have been named Player of the Year by the Tipoff Club a combined 12 times – Vern Fleming in 1984, Jones in 1999, Jarvis Hayes in 2002 and 2003, Rashad Wright in 2004, Trey Thompkins in 2011, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in 2013, J.J Frazier in 2016 and 2017, Yante Maten in 2018, Edwards in 2020 and Newell in 2025.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike's, MOLECULE, Sharpie and Werner Ladder. For more information, visit www.naismithtrophy.com.
Players Mentioned
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