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Somto Cyril turns page in growth and trusting Georgia's process

Jeremy Johnsonby: Jeremy Johnson14 hours agoJeremyO_Johnson
Somto Cyril
Dale Zanine | Imagn Images

Somto Cyril will be one of the familiar names on Georgia’s basketball team this season. Cyril returns for his sophomore season with a new role, a new body ready to contribute to a new style of play.

Cyril averaged 4.6 points per game along with 3.8 rebounds per game. The 6-11 big man trimmed down a bit this offseason and then added muscle in its place.

He estimates he’s hovering around 250 pounds as preseason practices have kicked off. Cyril feels good about where he is physically.

Georgia has added a few new players to the core. Mike White expects this Georgia team to look and play a lot faster and more open this season.

“We worked all summer, coach White made it clear that this is our playing style and this is how it’s going to be, you’ve just got to be able to make the changes and be able to keep up,” Cyril told reporters on Monday. “I think I’ve done a good job getting in shape, working a lot with the guards.”

For Cyril, the new playing style for Georgia could mean more opportunities to score. Cyril expects more above-the-rim opportunities this winter.

“This playing style, you’re going to have a lot of space to work with,” Cyril said. “We have a really good group of guys that can really shoot the ball. It’s a game-changer for me in the paint to have that space to operate. There will be more lobs and, of course, we’re a running team so there will be fast breaks, and that’s going to be really good for us.”

Somto Cyril wants to continue to shift the narrative around Georgia basketball

Georgia basketball made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2015 last season. The Bulldogs fell in the first round to Gonzaga, but come into the preseason with the expectation of doing the same and potentially more.

The Bulldogs will have to replace some key names. Of the starting five in the final game, only two players are back in Athens this season: Blue Cain and Dylan James.

Cyril was a key sub, spelling and sometimes playing alongside Asa Newell. Cyril did not feel the need to explore other options. He likes where he is and wants to build on last season at Georgia.

“I take pride in figuring things out,” Cyril said. “Jumping in the transfer portal is probably the easy way out. I don’t see myself doing that. I feel like whenever things get tough or whenever they don’t go your way, you have to trust the process and figure it out and make it work. Coming back here, people question why I did it. I was just trusting the process.”

Georgia opens the season on Nov. 3 at Stegman Coliseum against Bellarmine.

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