Asa Newell, 2024 five-star plus+ PF, picks Georgia
Georgia Basketball landed its top target in the Class of 2024 on Wednesday as five-star plus+ power forward Asa Newell announced his commitment to Mike White, Erik Pastrana and the staff in Athens. Originally from the Classic City, the 6-foot-9, 205-pound senior chose the Bulldogs over fellow finalists Alabama, Gonzaga and Texas.
The No. 11 overall player according to the On3 Industry Ranking, Newell started his high school career at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. where he helped the Indians to a 22-2 record while averaging 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Then, transferring to national powerhouse Montverde Academy, Newell was putting up even better stats against tougher competition halfway through his junior season.
Newell also has experience at the international level, playing for USA Basketball on the Men’s U17 National Team in 2022 and the Men’s U19 National Team in the 2023 FIBA Men’s U19 World Cup. In seven games for Team USA, Newell averaged 7.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Playing double-digit minutes in each outing including 20+ in four, Newell had his best game of the tournament in the 3rd Place Game against Turkey, scoring 11 points while also bringing in 6 rebounds. He had 13 points versus Lebanon and 8 rebounds against Slovenia in the Group Phase, his tournament-high totals.
Newell, whose older brother Jaden is a Bulldogs redshirt freshman walk-on currently, is the highest rated prospect to pick Georgia in the Mike White era. Should he sign and stay above No. 13 (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 2011), Newell would be the highest ranked player to end up at Georgia outside of Anthony Edwards (No. 2, 2019).
Scouting Report
“Asa Newell is a lengthy forward with a projectable frame. The frame is what you notice from the second he walks on the floor. The lefty has soft touch with range that extends beyond the three-point line, especially off the catch. The jump shot can get inconsistent, would like to see him get the balance right. He is comfortable driving left aggressively. He is an instinctive offensive rebounder, and he is not afraid to mix it up in traffic and hunt put-back dunks. Newell will need to continue developing the right hand and progressing with his middle game. Strength will also be a thing with the 6-foot-9 forward. However, with his size, skill set, and quick-twitch athleticism, when his motor runs hot, there is a lot of production he brings to the court.” – On3’s Jamie Shaw
Newell is Georgia’s first commit for the Class of 2024 but not the only elite prospect that the Bulldogs are pursuing. Small forward Derrion Reid, the No. 16 overall player according to the On3 Industry Ranking, also has UGA has one of his final few schools with a decision potentially coming soon while the same could be said about Khani Rooths, the No. 27 overall player. Georgia is the RPM favorite for both.
