University of Georgia Athletics
Wilkinson Always Ready ’To Take That Shot’
January 30, 2026 | Men's Basketball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Jeremiah Wilkinson isn't afraid of the big moments. In fact, the Georgia men's basketball sophomore wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line.
On Jan. 3, in the Bulldogs' SEC opener against Auburn, Wilkinson showed just how comfortable he was shooting the big shots. With the Tigers up 98-95 with 2:56 to go in overtime, Wilkinson scored Georgia's next seven points, hitting a free throw and then back-to-back 3-pointers, to help lift the Bulldogs to a 104-100 win at Stegeman Coliseum. He finished with 31 points (in 36 minutes) and grabbed six rebounds.
"It's always going to be a special moment every time you make a play like that," he said. "Just knowing that you have the confidence in yourself to take that shot, and knowing that you've got to be ready for the negative that comes with it if you miss, along with the positive when you make it — I'm always going to have the confidence to take that shot if it comes down to it."
When asked to name his best moment ever on a basketball court, Wilkinson said it "might have been the Auburn game." That's because it was his first SEC game, against a team that made the Final Four last season, and because when his team needed him to deliver in the biggest moments, he did.
"To go have a big performance like that added some confidence to the tank," he said,
Eleven days after his huge performance against Auburn, Wilkinson was at it again against Ole Miss. After the Rebels went ahead 20-10 during a slow start for the Bulldogs, Wilkinson hit a 3 from the top of the key. A few minutes later, he hit one from the left wing. Another Wilkinson 3 from the wing tied the game 26-26, and by halftime, the Bulldogs were ahead 40-35 thanks in large part to five 3s from the California transfer.
Wilkinson's season-high 32 points against the Rebels weren't enough to secure a win, with Georgia falling 97-95 in overtime on a buzzer-beating putback, but the big performance, which also included four assists, three rebounds and two steals, was a continuation of what the 6-foot-1 guard has done since joining the Bulldogs.
Last season, Wilkinson, from Powder Springs, Ga., started 14 of 32 games as a freshman at Cal and averaged 15.1 points per game (17.0 in conference play). He was the ACC's Sixth Man of the Year and was selected for the ACC All-Rookie team after scoring in double figures in 18 of 20 league games. He poured in a career-high 36 points in a game against Notre Dame.
Wilkinson said he transferred to Georgia to be closer to home and to make it easier for his family to see him play.
"Last year, my dad would take a same-day flight, flying up in the morning and flying back at night, to come to California to watch me play. And as much as he was not going to show me that that's a lot (of effort), I know it's a lot, and it was hard on him," Wilkinson said. "He's going to do it if he has to, but I'm trying to hold up my end of the bargain and make it all easier."
The move back to Georgia is working out well for Wilkinson, who opened his Bulldog career with 15 points against Bellarmine, had his first 20-point game with 22 against Morehead State in the third game of the season, and has scored 20 or more eight times overall. Heading into Saturday's game against Texas A&M at the Steg, Wilkinson is Georgia's leading scorer at 17.1 points per game; he's also tied with Blue Cain for the lead in steals with 35.
"I knew I had talent, but you never know where it can take you; you never know," he said. "I didn't know I was going to be sitting in this position this year after walking into college a year and a half ago, which is not that long ago. I'm just letting it evolve as it evolves."
Staff Writer
Jeremiah Wilkinson isn't afraid of the big moments. In fact, the Georgia men's basketball sophomore wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line.
On Jan. 3, in the Bulldogs' SEC opener against Auburn, Wilkinson showed just how comfortable he was shooting the big shots. With the Tigers up 98-95 with 2:56 to go in overtime, Wilkinson scored Georgia's next seven points, hitting a free throw and then back-to-back 3-pointers, to help lift the Bulldogs to a 104-100 win at Stegeman Coliseum. He finished with 31 points (in 36 minutes) and grabbed six rebounds.
"It's always going to be a special moment every time you make a play like that," he said. "Just knowing that you have the confidence in yourself to take that shot, and knowing that you've got to be ready for the negative that comes with it if you miss, along with the positive when you make it — I'm always going to have the confidence to take that shot if it comes down to it."
When asked to name his best moment ever on a basketball court, Wilkinson said it "might have been the Auburn game." That's because it was his first SEC game, against a team that made the Final Four last season, and because when his team needed him to deliver in the biggest moments, he did.
"To go have a big performance like that added some confidence to the tank," he said,
Eleven days after his huge performance against Auburn, Wilkinson was at it again against Ole Miss. After the Rebels went ahead 20-10 during a slow start for the Bulldogs, Wilkinson hit a 3 from the top of the key. A few minutes later, he hit one from the left wing. Another Wilkinson 3 from the wing tied the game 26-26, and by halftime, the Bulldogs were ahead 40-35 thanks in large part to five 3s from the California transfer.
Wilkinson's season-high 32 points against the Rebels weren't enough to secure a win, with Georgia falling 97-95 in overtime on a buzzer-beating putback, but the big performance, which also included four assists, three rebounds and two steals, was a continuation of what the 6-foot-1 guard has done since joining the Bulldogs.
Last season, Wilkinson, from Powder Springs, Ga., started 14 of 32 games as a freshman at Cal and averaged 15.1 points per game (17.0 in conference play). He was the ACC's Sixth Man of the Year and was selected for the ACC All-Rookie team after scoring in double figures in 18 of 20 league games. He poured in a career-high 36 points in a game against Notre Dame.
Wilkinson said he transferred to Georgia to be closer to home and to make it easier for his family to see him play.
"Last year, my dad would take a same-day flight, flying up in the morning and flying back at night, to come to California to watch me play. And as much as he was not going to show me that that's a lot (of effort), I know it's a lot, and it was hard on him," Wilkinson said. "He's going to do it if he has to, but I'm trying to hold up my end of the bargain and make it all easier."
The move back to Georgia is working out well for Wilkinson, who opened his Bulldog career with 15 points against Bellarmine, had his first 20-point game with 22 against Morehead State in the third game of the season, and has scored 20 or more eight times overall. Heading into Saturday's game against Texas A&M at the Steg, Wilkinson is Georgia's leading scorer at 17.1 points per game; he's also tied with Blue Cain for the lead in steals with 35.
"I knew I had talent, but you never know where it can take you; you never know," he said. "I didn't know I was going to be sitting in this position this year after walking into college a year and a half ago, which is not that long ago. I'm just letting it evolve as it evolves."
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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