Georgia lands App State forward Justin Abson out of transfer portal

Georgia Basketball has another commitment out of the transfer portal coming its way. Appalachian State forward Justin Abson announced his pledge to UGA on Wednesday after the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Pompano Beach, Fla. native spent two seasons in the Sun Belt. He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining as he makes the transition to the SEC, hoping to have an equal or greater impact with the Bulldogs as he did with the Mountaineers.

As a freshman in 2022-23, Abson started 23 games and played in all 32 for the Mountaineers. He blocked 70 shots, second-most ever by an App State player in a single season and most by a freshman in program history. On top of that, the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Pompano Beach, Fla. native averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting a team-best 61%, scoring in double-figures seven times including a season-high 16 against Marshall.

He would build on that impressive first season in 2023-24. Helping App State win the Sun Belt regular season and make the NIT, knocking off Auburn in the process of it all, Abson started all but one of the 34 games in which he played, upping both his point and rebound totals to 7.9 and 7.1 respectively. He would reach double-figures 11 times including a trio of double-doubles. Even more impressive, Abson earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year as he finished third in the nation with 96 blocks on the season.

“I feel like I’m an interior force on both sides of the ball,” Abson told DawgsHQ, describing his style of game. “I’m also a capable passer. We watched a good bit of film (this past weekend) and saw what development plan they have for me. They want to develop my jump shot, my free throws, help me get in better shape. I saw how I fit in their style of play.”

“First of all he’s a great person. In terms of basketball, he fits what we do. Well raised, well mannered, good kid … I think Justin could be conference player of the year down the road.” Appalachian State head coach Dustin Kerns said in February, according to The Appalachian. “I think he has put himself on pace to become the all-time shot blocker in school history. He leads by example, He is also one of our better students so once again leading by example. I appreciate the work he puts into the classroom while also focusing on basketball.” 

Abson visited Georgia for the Bulldogs’ annual G-Day football spring game on April 13th. He told DawgsHQ after the visit he spent time with freshman Dylan James as well as the UGA staff with assistant coach Erik Pastrana acting as the lead recruiter.

“My trip to Athens was great,” Abson said. “Coming from Boone, it’s a pretty cool city. Going to Athens, it was nice. The campus, the downtown area, I enjoyed it all.”

“They’ve been consistently recruiting me, having phone calls and a bunch of stuff like that,” Abson added. “They know my dreams and aspirations and they believe they can put me in the best position to reach them … They’re saying I’d be able to play-make from the perimeter a bit. I’d have a bigger role than I did at App. Coach White told me just how the program is up and coming. That was his main message, saying I can be part of something special here.”

Abson joins a Georgia squad that currently returns four players from last season: Silas Demary, Blue Cain, Dylan James and Frank Anselem-Ibe. Five-star plus+ forward Asa Newell signed with UGA in November in the Class of 2024, and the Bulldogs landed the commitment of Mount St. Mary’s transfer and MAAC Rookie of the Year De’Shayne Montgomery just last week.

Coming off of a season in which Georgia made a run to the NIT semifinals in its first postseason appearance since 2017 – winning 20 games in the process, a first in eight seasons – Mike White and his staff have six spots remaining for the 2024-25 roster after Abson’s addition. Lines remain in the water on other transfer portal targets as well as high school seniors in the Class of 2024.

Georgia Basketball Roster Tracker

Returnees (4): Frank Anselem-Ibe, Blue Cain, Silas Demary, Dylan James
Additions (3): Justin Abson (Appalachian State), De’Shayne Montgomery (Mount St. Mary’s), Asa Newell (Class of 2024)
Departures via Portal (6): Jabri Abdur-Rahim (Providence), Jalen DeLoach (Loyola Chicago), Justin Hill, Mari Jordan, RJ Melendez, M.A. Moncrieffe
Out of Eligibility (3): RJ Sunahara, Russel Tchewa, Noah Thomasson