Asa Newell wishes to put Georgia basketball on the map

• Mark Schlabach, ESPN

  • Senior WriterJan 15, 2025, 10:58 AM ET Close Senior college football author Author of seven books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. – When Asa Newell devoted to play at Georgia in October 2023, college basketball fans around the nation might have questioned why the five-star possibility chose the Bulldogs over more recognized programs like Alabama, Gonzaga and Texas.For Newell

and his older sibling Jaden, a sophomore forward, it was an opportunity to go back to the school that had been a cornerstone of their childhoods.The Newells’late maternal grandma, Jacqueline Mitchell, worked as an administrative assistant in the University of Georgia president’s workplace for 15 years.After Asa and Jaden moved to Athens as young children with their parents, Justin Newell and Carmen Mitchell-Newell, their granny ensured they took advantage of every opportunity the university had to offer.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated The Newell brothers participated in preschool at the McPhaul Center, an on-campus nursery school, which is throughout the street from Stegeman Coliseum.Asa and Jaden took piano lessons from a college student at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, learned to swim in Gabrielsen Natatorium and attended drama camps in the summertime.”She was very tough working and very committed to our family, “Asa said of his late grandmother.”She would make whatever sacrifice she required to make to make certain that we had whatever we required, whether it was sports, clothing, provides under the Christmas tree. She made certain it took place.”The Newell household transferred to Destin, Florida, after Mitchell died in 2016.”When my mom passed, it became really hard, especially for me, to remain in Athens,”

Mitchell-Newell said.”We needed a change just to reset. “But when it was time for Asa to select a college throughout the fall of his senior season at Montverde Academy in Florida, he picked familiarity over custom. Jaden had actually currently enrolled at Georgia as a preferred walk-on in 2022; his younger bro surprised a great deal of coaches when he likewise decided to go back to Athens. “Asa wished to be a change representative, and he wanted to leave a legacy at a school,”Mitchell-Newell stated. “He might have gone to a school that has the national championships or a great deal of players being prepared, however he wished to go someplace he could actually make a change. I think it’s easier to go to a school that has great success already, that’s already developed, than to go to a school where there is work to be done. “When Newell chose the Bulldogs, he became the 2nd luxury hire to dedicate to Georgia considering that the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007. The 6-foot-10 power forward was ranked

the No. 13 possibility in the class of 2024. Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards was the No. 4 hire when he signed with Georgia in February 2019. Edwards balanced 19.1 points and 5.2 rebounds as a freshman before he was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft.” One of the factors I wanted to come here was to assist bring up a program and produce a tradition,”Asa said. “I didn’t want to go somewhere where they desired me. I wished to go someplace where they needed me, and I felt like Georgia needed

me.” Asa and Jaden Newell together as children. Justin Newell BULLDOGS ASSISTANT COACH Erik Pastrana initially provided Asa a scholarship

when he was working at Oklahoma State in 2021. He joined Mike White’s staff at Florida in 2021-22, then followed him to Georgia the next season.After Jaden joined the Bulldogs as a walk-on, Asa had the ability to get a clear understanding of how the program run. Jaden was passing on whatever he saw back to his

bro and parents. “I could inform that the training personnel here actually cared about you,”Jaden said.” Asa would ask me about what we were doing and what it resembled here, and I constantly informed him the reality.

“White is certainly delighted the Newell brothers had a desire to go back to the campus where they grew up.With Asa leading the team in scoring (15.4 points )and rebounding( 6.8), the Bulldogs are off to a 14-2 start heading into Wednesday’s game at No. 6 Tennessee (8 p.m. ET/SEC Network). After knocking off then-No. 6 Kentucky 82-69 and

then-No. 17 Oklahoma 72-62 at home last week, Georgia is No. 23 in the AP and coaches ‘survey. It’s the very first time they have actually been ranked in both given that March 2003.”With this team, we have actually got

room to reach our ceiling, particularly offensively,”White said. “The things about these guys, we don’t coach effort with this group. We don’t need to challenge our guys to complete. You do not have the worry

of going into an opposing arena and fretting that your guys won’t show up for the battle.” We’ll win some, we’ll lose some, but we’ve got a competitive group. We’ve got a group that truly likes each other. We have actually got a really healthy culture that we have actually got to continue to promote.” That culture starts with the Newell

siblings. Jaden is a biology significant and wants to participate in medical school. According to White, he” models culture, work ethic and motor every day.” Georgia’s supervisors yell”motor “whenever Jaden makes a play in practice. He has appeared in 5 games this season.” That’s what he brings every day,” White said. “When he’s using the scout group, we have to slow him down sometimes due to the fact that he goes so hard, which’s a luxury. He’s just unselfish. He concerns work every day and is difficult.

He’s turned himself into a scholarship player in the SEC.” What has amazed White most about Asa is that he hasn’t had a bad day yet as far as effort is worried. From preseason practice to exhibit games to the routine season, Asa has actually been as consistent as anybody on the team.”He’s a true freshman,”White said.”I’ve never ever seen anything like it in his humbleness, his psychological strength, his consistency, work ethic and maturity. He’s got an old soul. He’s the very same kid each and every single day, and he has actually not had a freshman day yet. “Asa is expected to be a one-and-done player at Georgia. ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony ranks him as the No. 24 possibility readily available for June’s draft. NBA scouts like his movement and work in getting offending rebounds(3.6 per

game ); they wish to see much better ball handling and 3-point shooting(28.1 %).”He’s got great touch with both hands around the rim, so his 2-point percentage is truly good, “White stated.”His understanding of who he is and his ability to play within himself is an underrated element, especially for a guy who’s a true freshman. He’ll continue to get more powerful. He’s a much better shooter than his numbers currently show; his portion will continue to increase.”Asa’s willingness to play within Georgia’s system and not force shots is partly a product of his high school career. Extremely related to freshmen Cooper Flagg(Duke), Derik Queen(Maryland)and Liam McNeeley(UConn) were his colleagues at Montverde Academy. There were just a lot of shots to

walk around.”He plays properly,”Justin Newell stated.” He impacts winning. Even without scoring the ball, whether it be altering shots or getting a prompt rebound, he knows when he needs to step up and make something happen.”Not remarkably, the Newell brothers cohabit near the Georgia campus. Because they’re just separated in age by about one year and 9 months, their mom stated Asa often forgets who the huge sibling actually is.” Asa knows whatever that Jaden has actually provided for him, and Asa will inform you in a heart beat that Jaden is the one

who raked the field for him,”Mitchell-Newell said.” Jaden went before him to make the chance better for him, to assist him succeed.”After dipping into Tennessee, Georgia’s roadway ahead will not get any simpler. The Bulldogs will host No.

1 Auburn on Saturday(1 p.m. ET, SEC Network ), followed by road games at Arkansas on Jan. 22 and No. 5 Florida three days later.The Bulldogs have not appeared in the NCAA tournament given that losing to Michigan State 70-63 in the preliminary in 2015. They haven’t won a game in the NCAAs since an 85-68 rout of Murray State in the preliminary in 2002(the appearance was later on vacated since of NCAA sanctions). “Individuals care about basketball here,”White said. “They have actually appeared.

It was 30 degrees a few days ago, and we turned away 600 students who were twisted around this building. That’s incredible. “