Georgia Basketball: 2019 Class is the Crean of the Crop
In his first season as the Georgia Basketball head coach, Tom Crean took no time landing some top prospects for a team who is in desperate need.
Georgia basketball finished with an overall record of 11-21 and 2-16 in conference play. The Bulldogs struggled all season long finding a smooth flow to their offense and that being a result of the team not having a true point guard to facilitate Crean’s game plan.
Those offensive woes should no longer be a problem with the recruiting class Crean and his staff put together in 2019.
Landing the No. 2 player in the nation and five-star SG Anthony Edwards, No. 61 Christian Brown SF out of Oak Hill, and No. 69 ranked Jaykwon Walton SF out of Birmingham, Alabama.
The three previous years before Crean took over the helm of the UGA basketball squad the Dawgs finished with the No. 37, No, 41, and No. 35 ranked recruiting classes.
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In just his first year with the Dawgs Crean currently holds the 7th best-recruiting class in the nation, according to 247Sports.
It looks like Tom Crean has been taking notes from Kirby Smart based on the way he has been recruiting this year.
As of right now, the Dawgs have already had two players announce they will be transferring from the program.
Those players being sophomore guard Teshaun Hightower and freshman guard Ignas Sarguinas.
The team will also be saying goodbye to seniors William Jackson II, E’Torrion Wilridge, Mike Edwards, and Derek Ogbeide.
Currently, it doesn’t look like Georgia will be adding any more names to the 2019 recruiting class.
However, the two transfers could allow for a few scholarship spots to open up for some new incoming players that Crean would welcome to the team.
All of those names leaving it also means there are a lot of spots to fill on the roster next season. Adding Anthony Edwards alongside All-SEC 2nd Team Nicolas Claxton and Rayshaun Hammonds could be a recipe for something big in Athens.
Despite Edwards most likely being a one and done player given that he is a projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, a solid season and an appearance in the NCAA tourney could be just the thing that the Dawgs need to help turn this program back around.
With the football team and now baseball finding success down in the Classic City there is no doubt that the basketball team is itching for their turn.
If coach Crean can keep reeling in recruiting classes like the one he did this year I would see no reason why Georgia basketball won’t find their way to being Championship contenders.