Mike White excited for Asa Newell to join Georgia program
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia Basketball officially inked five-star plus+ power forward Asa Newell on Wednesday as the 2024 prospect signed his National Letter of Intent to be a Bulldog. You won’t find anyone happier about that than head coach Mike White.
“Very high,” White said when asked how big of priority Newell was upon arrival at Georgia. “We were recruiting him at Florida, we’ve known his family for a long time. He’s a wonderful kid, wonderful family. Obviously, a high-level talent we expect to impact immediately in a big, big way. Not only on the court but who he is as a person.”
“He’s an elite defender and rebounder from day one with a big-time motor,” White added. “He’s used to winning. High character, a hard-playing guy who’s developing offensively. He’s a guy that can play a couple of positions up front, he can stretch the defense with a beautiful stroke with a high release and quick release. Can drive it. Really good on the offensive glass. He’s developing every day offensively. He’s a hard, hard worker. He’s got a chance to be a special player.”
White gave credit where credit was due on the recruitment of Newell. Neither he nor assistant coach Erik Pastrana, who gave Newell his first offer back when he was at Oklahoma State, could take the claim as the lead recruiter. That title instead went to Asa’s older brother Jaden, a second-year walk-on at Georgia.
“Credit, big brother Ja-New, as the leader recruiter,” White said. “Jaden knows the ins and outs of our program. Asa’s kind of been an extension of our family since we got here. Really, really excited of course.”
WATCH: Jamie Shaw breaks down what Newell commitment means for Georgia
Newell, seen as a five-star by all four of the industry’s major ranking services, committed to Georgia just two weeks before the start of the signing period. He chose the Bulldogs over fellow finalists Alabama, Gonzaga and Texas.
Ranked the No. 11 overall player and No. 1 power forward according to the On3 Industry Ranking, Newell is in his second season at national powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida. However, he is originally from Athens.
Newell’s father told DawgsHQ that both Asa and Jaden attended preschool at the McPhaul Center just across the street from Stegeman Coliseum and have ties to the University of Georgia on both sides of the family.
Newell started his high school career at Choctawhatchee High School (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) where he helped the Indians to a 22-2 record while averaging 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds as a sophomore. This past season, he averaged 6.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assist per game on a Montverde roster loaded with Division I talent. The Eagles went 23-3 and lost in the quarterfinals of the GEICO High School National Championship entering as the top-seed and finishing the year ranked No. 2 nationally according to ESPN.
“We have a chance to continue to be in his life and continue to help his development on and off the court,” White said about the lengthy recruitment of Newell and the relationships paying off in the end. “It’s exciting that a player of his caliber with all the options that he had chose the University of Georgia.”
Georgia has the 11th-ranked class in the country with only Newell on board. The Bulldogs will look to add to it and likely jump into the top-10, still in the mix for a pair of top-30 players in Derrion Reid (No. 12 nationally, No. 4 small forward, No. 1 in California) and Khani Rooths (No. 26 nationally, No. 10 small forward, No. 5 in Florida).
